Article
Food Science & Technology
Miku Akishino, Yuko Aoki, Hajime Baba, Makio Asakawa, Yoichiro Hama, Susumu Mitsutake
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between Isofloridoside (IF) and the sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3, showing that IF interacts with T1R2/T1R3 and has the potential as a new alternative sweetener.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Congrui Wang, Yi Liu, Meng Cui, Bo Liu
Summary: Sweet taste is crucial for the preference and adaption of primates to diet. It is mediated by a GPCR-sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3. This study provides new insights into the molecular determinants of sweet taste recognition in primates.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuta Yoshida, Fuminori Kawabata, Shotaro Nishimura, Shoji Tabata
Summary: The study revealed that the heterodimer of T1R1 and T1R3 is rarely formed in the taste bud cells of chickens, indicating the presence of a potential alternative signaling system. Additionally, T1R3 and alpha-gustducin are primarily expressed in vimentin-positive cells, while T1R1 and the bitter taste receptor are mainly expressed in vimentin-negative cells in chicken taste buds.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristian Daly, Andrew W. Moran, Miran Al-Rammahi, Darren Weatherburn, Soraya P. Shirazi-Beechey
Summary: This study demonstrates notable differences among species in the ability to detect certain non-nutritive sweeteners, attributed to amino acid substitutions and pseudogenization of taste receptor genes. Using pig models, it was shown that commonly used non-nutritive sweeteners such as sucralose, saccharin, and acesulfame K activate the T1R2-T1R3 receptor, while aspartame and cyclamate do not.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Momoko Higashida, Yuta Yoshida, Yuko Kawabata, Yuki Matsui, Shotaro Nishimura, Shoji Tabata, Fuminori Kawabata
Summary: Investigating the sweet-sensing systems in chickens revealed that they can sense various sweet compounds through T1R2-independent pathways in the palate tissues. This research has important implications for improving poultry nutrition and feeding strategies in poultry farming.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nitzan Dubovski, Yaron Ben-Shoshan Galeczki, Einav Malach, Masha Y. Niv
Summary: We have found that L-glucose, the non-caloric enantiomer of D-glucose, can activate the human sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3 transiently expressed in HEK293T cells. Both D-glucose and L-glucose can also activate T1R2 and T1R3 without their counterpart monomer. Mutation of residue 147 in the binding site of T1R3 VFT domain abolishes activation by L- or D-glucose, while T1R2/T1R3S147A responds similarly to T1R2 alone. We have also discovered that the original T1R2 reference sequence is less sensitive compared to the reference sequence at the time of the study, with a specific mutation in the VFT domain responsible for this effect.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anni Laffitte, Christine Belloir, Fabrice Neiers, Loic Briand
Summary: This study analyzed the TAS1R2-VFT subunit of the human sweet taste receptor, revealing its ability to bind sweet stimuli and validating this ability through the introduction of point mutations. This has important implications for further researching the binding mechanism and conducting structural studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wilfredo Evangelista-Falcon, Clement Denhez, Angelica Baena-Moncada, Miguel Ponce-Vargas
Summary: It is widely accepted that sweet taste perception is activated by the sweet taste receptor (STR), a complex of T1R2 and T1R3. However, the interaction between STR and sweeteners is not fully understood. In this study, a combination of molecular dynamics and the independent gradient model (igm) approach was used to analyze the interaction between the T1R2 Venus flytrap domain (VFD) and aspartame. The results provide insights into the key interactions that stabilize the closed form of VFD and can be applied to the design of new sweeteners.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pedro Renault, Jesus Giraldo
Summary: Computational tools have been used to estimate the druggability of allosteric sites in GPCRs, but predicting hydrophobic sites remains challenging. This study introduces a dynamics-based approach using experimental structures, normal mode analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations to identify allosteric sites in beta 2AR, GCGR, and M2 receptors, showing promising predictive value.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ken Kobayashi, Liang Han, Taku Koyama, Shan-Ni Lu, Takanori Nishimura
Summary: A sweet taste receptor subunit T1R3 was found in both the apical and basolateral membranes of mammary epithelial cells (MECs). In a cell culture model, sucralose on both the apical and basolateral membranes activated the sweet taste receptor, leading to increased phosphorylation of STAT5, which is involved in milk production.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Ezen Choo, Anna Koh, Jason Goodman, Jennifer Bushnell, Hanna Mielke-Maday, Bryan Merte, Robin Dando
Summary: During pregnancy, maternal taste preferences change, likely due to alterations in taste buds' expression profile, which may promote a less healthy diet while expecting.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Woong Jae Choi, Zeinab Haratipour, Raymond D. Blind
Summary: Nuclear receptors, regulated by various lipids, are transcription factors that possess a DNA-binding domain and a lipid ligand-binding domain. Structural studies on the isolated lipid ligand-binding domain have shown that lipid-ligand binding regulates the conformation of the domain and affects nuclear receptor function. Understanding the structure-function relationships between lipids and nuclear receptors is important for drug development. However, few studies have described the full-length structure of nuclear receptors and how lipids may allosterically regulate it.
JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Amanda E. Wakefield, David Bajusz, Dima Kozakov, Gyoergy M. Keseru, Sandor Vajda
Summary: Despite the limited number of GPCR structures cocrystallized with allosteric inhibitors, protein mapping has revealed the presence of druggable sites at the same locations in a large variety of GPCRs. These sites cluster at nine distinct locations and can be specifically targeted for allosteric modulation across GPCRs. The FTMap server facilitates protein mapping and is freely available for academic and governmental use.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION AND MODELING
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Jea Hwa Jang, Ha Kyeong Kim, Dong Woo Seo, Su Young Ki, Soonhong Park, Sang-Hyun Choi, Dong-Hoon Kim, Seok Jun Moon, Yong Taek Jeong
Summary: Research has shown that sweet taste receptors have unknown functions in the brain and may serve as a novel therapeutic target in the central nervous system. Using T1r2-Cre knock-in mice, the expression pattern of T1R2 in the brain was revealed. Sweet taste receptors are not only expressed in neurons, but also in glial populations in circumventricular organs and vascular structures in the brain.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jaewan Jang, Soo-Kyung Kim, Brian Guthrie, William A. Goddard
Summary: The study investigates the effects of sweetener blends on the TAS1R2/1R3 receptor through molecular dynamics and finds that full synergic combinations and partial synergic combinations show significantly more negative changes in free energy compared to single-ligand cases. Conversely, a pair known to be suppressive exhibits significantly less changes in free energy. This research provides insight into the atomistic mechanisms of synergy and identifies new sweetener combinations for reducing caloric content in treating diseases.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mu-Yeong Lee, Seon-Mi Lee, Seung-Gu Kang, Hye Sook Jeon, Hee-Jong Kim, Jin-Young Park, Junghwa An
Summary: The study evaluated the population structure and genetic diversity of cinereous vultures in South Korea, finding that most individuals had a single haplotype (Hap8) while a few had a haplotype (Hap9) associated with populations from the Caucasus region. The results suggest that the South Korean population likely originated from the Far Eastern cluster (Mongolian population).
AVIAN BIOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jin-Yong Kim, Soo Hyung Eo, Seung-Gu Kang, Jung Eun Hwang, Yonggu Yeo, Jongmin Yoon
Summary: Hill pigeons in South Korea are close to local extinction and have low genetic diversity. They are not genetically distinct from Mongolian and Russian populations but show lower genetic diversity compared to other endangered species in Columbidae. The population with the largest size has lower genetic diversity. To conserve hill pigeons, captive propagation and reintroduction, as well as artificial gene flows and introduction of foreign individuals, are suggested.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Seung-Gu Kang, Joseph A. Morrone, Jeffrey K. Weber, Wendy D. Cornell
Summary: In this study, we analyze the impact of seed and training bias on the output of a graph-based variational autoencoder. By leveraging a massive labeled dataset, our generative model is shown to excel in producing desired activities and physical properties in generated molecules. The study uncovers relationships between noise, molecular seeds, and training set selection, providing important insights for practical AI-driven molecule generation.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION AND MODELING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeffrey K. Weber, Joseph A. Morrone, Sugato Bagchi, Jan D. Estrada Pabon, Seung-gu Kang, Leili Zhang, Wendy D. Cornell
Summary: A simplified and explainable graph convolutional neural network architecture was proposed for small molecule activity prediction, showing performance improvements over standard methods and highlighting the relationships between molecular substructures. Visualization of substructural clusters was shown to be useful for understanding substructure-activity relationships.
JOURNAL OF COMPUTER-AIDED MOLECULAR DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Optics
SeungGu Kang, Joonghan Shin
Summary: This study investigated the impact of different laser beam intensity distributions on aluminum alloy butt welding, finding that welding with modulated beams can reduce weld defects and achieve higher tensile strength.
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Seung Gu Kang, Kwang Bok Shin
Summary: This paper compared the effect of curvature changes on the mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture toughness of composite plates. The results showed that the interlaminar fracture toughness increased with increasing curvature for mode I tests, but there was no difference for mode II tests. These findings are important for accurately predicting the progressive failure of pressure vessels and composite structures with curvature.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS A
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Eun Bi Lee, Kwang Bok Shin, Seung Gu Kang, Min Soo Kim
Summary: This study aims to design and evaluate the structural performance of a sandwich composite floor panel for an electric vehicle, in order to reduce weight and improve interior space. By comparing the deflections of different sandwich composites, a combination of aluminum skin and PET-130 core was selected for the floor panel, resulting in significant improvements in interior space and weight reduction.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS A
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jung A. Kim, Beom-Soon Choi, Nam-Soo Kim, Seung-Gu Kang, Jin-Young Park, Yong-Gu Yeo, Ju-Hee Bae, Ju-Hee Lee, Taeyoung Um, Ik-Young Choi, Junghwa An
Summary: This study sequenced and analyzed the genomes of three different pigeon species, revealing that intergenus variations were more significant than intragenus variations. The relationship between the rock pigeon and oriental turtle dove was found to be closer compared to the hill pigeon. Additionally, all three bird species underwent a common population bottleneck in the past 100,000 years.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Hyung-Woo Kim, Seung-Gu Kang, Sang-Yong Jung, Han-Kyeol Yeo
Summary: This study compares the performance of eight models, including permanent magnet synchronous machines, fractional-slot distributed-winding permanent magnet machines, and fractional-slot concentrated-winding permanent magnet machines, for direct-driven wind power generators. The results show that the fractional-slot distributed-winding permanent magnet machine is the best model based on torque density, torque ripple, and potential for performance improvement.
JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jin-Yong Kim, Jung Eun Hwang, Soo Hyung Eo, Seung-Gu Kang, Jeong Chan Moon, Jung A. Kim, Jin-Young Park, Junghwa An, Yonggu Yeo, Jongmin Yoon
Summary: In this study, genomic hybridization markers were developed for the F1 progeny of sister species feral pigeons and endangered hill pigeons. These markers have the potential to play a crucial role in assessing hybridization frequency in the wild and managing the population decline of hill pigeons.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Xiangxiang Zeng, Fei Wang, Yuan Luo, Seung-Gu Kang, Jian Tang, Felice C. Lightstone, Evandro F. Fang, Wendy Cornell, Ruth Nussinov, Feixiong Cheng
Summary: The recent advances of AI and deep generative models in medicinal applications, specifically in drug discovery and development, have proven their utility. This review provides an updated and accessible guide for the computational drug discovery and development community, discussing classical and newly developed AI approaches. The theoretical frameworks for representing chemical and biological structures and their applications are described, along with the challenges and future directions of multimodal deep generative models for accelerating drug discovery.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jianxiang Huang, Kevin C. C. Chan, Ruhong Zhou
Summary: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global alarm, leading to extensive research on repurposing drugs to treat the infection. Researchers have found that a metabolite of the drug fenofibrate, called fenofibric acid (FA), can destabilize the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein, inhibiting its binding to the hACE2 receptor. Through molecular dynamics simulations, the study identified a potential cryptic binding site for FA on the RBD and demonstrated that FA alters the conformation of the binding loop, reducing its affinity for ACE2. This research provides new insights for designing SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors targeting cryptic sites on the RBD.
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Hye-Won Yang, Do Hyun Kang, Seung-Gu Kang, DoHyun Jang, Seok-Won Jung, Sang-Yong Jung
Summary: This paper investigates the three-dimensional electromagnetic forces of motors according to different skew types and proposes a novel skew condition. The performance of both the conventional and proposed models is compared.
TWENTIETH BIENNIAL IEEE CONFERENCE ON ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD COMPUTATION (IEEE CEFC 2022)
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
DoHyun Jang, Seung-Gu Kang, Young-Ho Hwang, Seok-Won Jung, Yong-Jae Kim, Sang-Yong Jung
Summary: This paper presents an optimal design method for reducing energy consumption in spindle motors, which is receiving increasing attention due to the growing awareness of environmental impact in manufacturing processes. By using IPMSM and conducting multi-objective optimization, the moment of inertia, power density, and energy consumption cost are taken as objective functions.
TWENTIETH BIENNIAL IEEE CONFERENCE ON ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD COMPUTATION (IEEE CEFC 2022)
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Seung-Gu Kang, DoHyun Kang, Sung-Chang Lee, Seok-Won Jung, Sang-Yong Jung
Summary: This paper investigates the coupled problems, including structural analysis, of the permanent magnet assistant-synchronous reluctance motor (PMa-SynRM) for railway traction. The PMa-SynRM is considered as an alternative motor type for high-speed coasting operation with excessive back electromotive force. The variations in mechanical stress are studied based on the properties of the barrier material, including mass density, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio, and the effects of stress on electromagnetic performance and rotor iron loss are analyzed at different operating points and speeds. A proper option for PMa-SynRM is proposed as a solution to the coupled problem.
TWENTIETH BIENNIAL IEEE CONFERENCE ON ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD COMPUTATION (IEEE CEFC 2022)
(2022)