Abstract:
DING proteins, a group of novel proteins with an N-terminal amino acid sequence of D-I-N-G-, are highly-conserved proteins with poorly-defined cell-signaling roles in mammals. Conserved homologues are also common in plants. Studies by other groups demonstrated that rat and human DING proteins can bind cotinine and genistein, respectively. The first part of this study thus included the use of affinity chromatography to study the affinity of the human DING protein to several pharmacologically-active phytochemicals: cotinine, genistein, curcumin and quercetin......