• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2022

Objectives : Oxidative damage has a variety of mechanism in the human organs including brain and liver. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevention against cellular damage, and the inhibitory effect on lipogenesis of the water extract of Eriobotrya japonica (EJE). Methods : The effect of EJE on cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. To investigate the mechanism of EJE's inhibition of lipogenesis, we analyzed the relevant proteins using immunoblot analysis. Results : Induction of T0901317, a LXR agonist, significantly increased SREBP-1c expression, which was blocked by the pretreatment of EJE in the dose-dependent manners. This beneficial herb also regulated the genes related with SREBP-1c such as the acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Conclusion : These results suggested that EJE might have a possibility of the treatment of chronic diseases as mediated with the inhibition of LXRα/SREBP-1c pathway.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2022

Cudrania tricuspidata (C. tricuspidata), a medicinal plant widely employed throughout Asia in ethnomedicine, has various bioactive properties, including antidiabetic, antiobesity, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, the C. tricuspidata root extract reportedly inhibits platelet aggregation. Therefore, we focused on the active substances present in the C. tricuspidata extract. Sanggenon N (SN) is a flavonoid found in the root bark of C. tricuspidata. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effects of SN on platelet aggregation, phosphoproteins, thromboxane A₂ generation, and integrin αIIbβ3 activity. SN inhibited collagen-induced human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, SN suppressed Ca²⁺ mobilization and influx through associated signaling molecules, such as inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor I (Ser¹⁷⁵⁶), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. In addition, SN inhibited thromboxane A₂ generation and associated signaling molecules, including cytosolic phospholipase A₂ and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38. Finally, SN could inhibit integrin (αIIb/β₃) activity by regulating vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein and Akt. Collectively, SN possesses potent antiplatelet effects and is a potential therapeutic drug candidate to prevent platelet-related thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 1999

Purpose : The human genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a multisystem disease characterized by extreme radiosensitivity. The recent identification of the gene mutated in AT, ATM, and the demonstration that it encodes a homologous domain of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), the catalytic subunit of an enzyme involved in transmitting signals from the cell surface to the nucleus, provide support for a role of this gene in signal transduction. Although ionizing radiation was known to induce c-fos transcription, nothing is known about how ATM or PKCI mediated signal transduction pathway modulates the c-fos gene transcription and gene expression. Here we have studied the effect of PKCI on radiation sensitivity and c-fos transcription in normal and AT cells. Materials and Methods: Normal (LM217) and AT (AT5BIVA) cells were transfected with PKCI expression plasmid and the overexpression and integration of PKCI was evaluated by northern blotting and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. 5 Gy of radiation was exposed to LM and AT cells transfected with PKCI expression plasmid and cells were harvested 48 hours after radiation and investigated apoptosis with TUNEL method. The c-fos transcription activity was studied by performing CAT assay of reporter gene after transfection of c-fos CAT plasmid into AT and LM cells. Results: Our results demonstrate for the first time a role of PKCI on the radiation sensitivity and c-fos expression in LM and AT cells. PKCI increased radiation induced apoptosis in LM cells but reduced apoptosis in AT cells. The basal c-fos transcription activity is 70 times lower in AT cells than that in LM cells. The c-fos transcription activity was repressed by overexpression of PKCI in LM cells but not in AT cells. After induction of c-fos by Ras protein, overexpression of PKCI repressed c-fos transcription in LM cells but not in AT cells Conclusion: Overexpression of PKCI increased radiation sensitivity and repressed c-fos transcription in LM cells but not in AT cells. The results may be a. reason of increased radiation sensitivity of AT cells. PKCI may be involved in an ionizing radiation induced signal transduction pathway responsible for radiation sensitivity and c-fos transcription. The data also provided evidence for novel transcriptional difference between LM and AT cells.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2001

E. coli transformants EC3, EC4. and EC6. harboring citron oil degrading pathway genes, were co-cultured in M9 media with citron oil as a sole carbon source at 28$^{\circ}C$. Each co-culture(EC3+EC4, EC3+EC6, EC4+EC6 and EC3+EC4+EC6) showed three to four times higher cell growth than each transformant single culture. Microbial conversion products from the co-cultures were determined by GC-MS. Linalool. 4-terpineol and ${\alpha}$-terpineol were the major common products from co-cultures. Various minor products also were detected and important in flavor characteristics of cultures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1740-1746
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• 2006

Enrichment techniques led to the isolation of a Pseudomonas sp. strain P2 from municipal waste-contaminated soil sample, which could utilize different isomers of a commercial mixture of 4-nonylphenol when grown in the presence of phenol. The isolate was identified as Pseudomonas sp., based on the morphological, nutritional, and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The ${\beta}$-ketoadipate pathway was found to be involved in the degradation of phenol by Pseudomonas sp. strain P2. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of the culture media indicated degradation of various major isomers of 4-nonylphenol in the range of 29-50%. However, the selected ion monitoring mode of analysis of biodegraded products of 4-nonylphenol indicated the absence of any aromatic compounds other than those of the isomers of 4-nonylphenol. Moreover, Pseudomonas sp. strain P2 was incapable of utilizing various alkanes individually as sole carbon source, whereas the degradation of 4-nonylphenol was observed only when the test organism was induced with phenol, suggesting that the degradation of 4-nonylphenol was possibly initiated from the phenolic moiety of the molecule, but not from the alkyl side-chain.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.153-164
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• 1990

Human dental pulps obtained from normal teeth, hypersensitive teeth and teeth with inflamed pulp were studied to measure and to compare the endogenous levels of arachidonic acid metabolites in order to see the relative activities of the different pathways involved in arachidonic acid metabolism. Pulp homogenates were incubated with $^{14}C$-arachidonic acid and lipid solvent extracts were separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) to be analyzed by autoradiography and TLC analyzer. 1. The most significant metabolite was HETEs showing $96.9{\pm}37.8$pmol/mg tissue protein/hr in normal pulp, $169.2{\pm}76.7$ in hypersensitive pulp and $385.4{\pm}113.2$ in inflamed pulp. In normal pulp $LTB_4$, 6-keto-$PGF_{1\alpha}+PGE_2$, $TXB_2$ and unidentified metabolite were formed in decreasing order. While in hypersensitive and inflamed pulp 6-keto-$PGF_{1\alpha}+PGE_2$, $LTB_4$, $TXB_2$ and unidentified metabolite were formed in decreasing order. 2. In hypersensitive pulp only HETEs were significantly increased when compared with that in normal pulp. The levels of all the converted metabolites in inflamed pulp were significantly increased compared with those in normal pulp. In inflamed pulp, the levels of $TXB_2$ and HETEs were significantly increased compared with those in hypersensitive pulp. 3. The ratio of each metabolites to the total converted metabolites showed an increased value of $TXB_2$ and 6-keto-$PGF_{1\alpha}+PGE_2$, as the degree of inflammation was increased, while that of HETEs decreased both in hypersensitive pulp and inflamed pulp more than in normal pulp. 4. The relative amounts of the total metabolites formed in lipoxygenase pathway to cyclo-oxygenase pathway were 6.8 fold in normal pulp, 4.4 fold in hypersensitive pulp and 3.8 fold in inflamed pulp.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.867-874
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• 2000

Two new azobenzene crown ether calix[4]arenes, 10 and 11, were synthesized by two pathways. In the first pathway,two ethoxy nitrobenzene groups were attached to t-butylcalix[4]arenes in a 1,3 position. Subsequent reduction ofthe nitrobenzene group s by metallic zinc in an alkaline solution afforded 10 and 11 in8% and 12%,respectively. In the second pathway,an azobenzene containing two glycolic units was prepared prior connect-ing to t-butylcalix[4]arenes. The yields from the second approach (5%, 8% for 10 and 11, respectively) were lower than those from the former approach. Single crystals of 10 suitable for X-ray crystallography was ob-tained by recrystallization in methanol.Both the X-ray structure and the 1H-NMR spectrum of 10 indicated that the stereoisomer of the azobenzene moiety was trans and the calixarene platform was in cone conformation. 1H NMR spectroscopy suggested that 10 underwent an observable cis-trans isomerization in CDCl3 under room light and upon UV irradiation with cis:trans ratios of 33:67 and 36:64,respectively. Compound 6 which was the precursor of 11showed fluxional behavior and was found to have mixed conformations ofcone and partial cone with a ratio of 47:53 at -30 $^{\circ}C.$ 1H NMR spectrum of 11 suggested that 11 was initially isolated as cis azobenzene with calix[4]arene in cone conformation and underwent conformational interconversion through calix[4]arene annulas in a similar fashion to 6 upon exposing to light. The complexation studies of 10 with picrate salts of Na+ and K+ using 1H NMR spectroscopysuggested that Na+ preferred to bind the cis form of 10 while K+ preferred to bind the trans form. The stereoisomer of the azobenzene unit in 11 changed partially from cis to trans upon complexing with K+.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 2005

Melatonin, the principal hormone of the vertebral pineal gland, participates in the regulation of cardiovascular system in vitro and in vivo. However, the effects of melatonin on vascular tissues are still vague. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between phospholipase C (PLC) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)/cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) signaling cascade in the relaxatory action of melatonin in isolated rat aorta. Melatonin induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in phenylephrine (PE)- and KCl-precontracted endothelium intact (+E) aortic rings. In KCl-precontracted +E aortic rings, the melatonin-induced vasorelaxation was not inhibited by endothelium removal or by pretreatment with NOS inhibitors, L-$N^G$-nitor-arginine (L-NNA) and L-$N^G$-nitor-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), guanylate cyclase (GC) inhibitors, methylene blue (MB) and 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ). In PE-precontracted +E aortic rings, the melatonin-induced vasorelaxation was inhibited by endothelium removal or by pretreatment with L-NNA, L-NAME, MB, ODQ and 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-n,n-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC). Moreover, in without endothelium (-E) aortic rings and in the presence of L-NNA, L-NAME, MB and ODQ in +E aortic rings, the melatonin-induced residual relaxations and residual contractile responses to PE were not affected by NCDC, a PLC inhibitor. It is concluded that melatonin can evoke vasorelaxation due to inhibition of PLC pathway through the protein kinase G activation of endothelial NOS/cGMP signaling cascade.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2007

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) is a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid pathway, which synthesizes numerous secondary metabolites to participate in development and adaption. Two C4H isoforms, the 2192-bp BnC4H-1 and 2108-bp BnC4H-2, were cloned from oilseed rape (Brassica napus). They both have two introns and a 1518-bp open reading frame encoding a 505-amino-acid polypeptide. BnC4H-1 is 57.73 kDa with an isoelectric point of 9.11, while 57.75 kDa and 9.13 for BnC4H-2. They share only 80.6% identities on nucleotide level but 96.6% identities and 98.4% positives on protein level. Showing highest homologies to Arabidopsis thaliana C4H, they possess a conserved p450 domain and all P450-featured motifs, and are identical to typical C4Hs at substrate-recognition sites and active site residues. They are most probably associated with endoplasmic reticulum by one or both of the N- and C-terminal transmembrane helices. Phosphorylation may be a necessary post-translational modification. Their secondary structures are dominated by alpha helices and random coils. Most helices locate in the central region, while extended strands mainly distribute before and after this region. Southern blot indicated about 9 or more C4H paralogs in B. napus. In hypocotyl, cotyledon, stem, flower, bud, young- and middle-stage seed, they are co-dominantly expressed. In root and old seed, BnC4H-2 is dominant over BnC4H-1, with a reverse trend in leaf and pericarp. Paralogous C4H numbers in Brassicaceae genomes and possible roles of conserved motifs in 5' UTR and the 2nd intron are discussed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2020

Fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components. The fibrotic process ultimately leads to organ dysfunction and failure in chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, advanced kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common form of progressive and chronic interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology. Pathophysiologically, the parenchyma of the lung alveoli, interstitium, and capillary endothelium becomes scarred and stiff, which makes breathing difficult because the lungs have to work harder to transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveolar space and bloodstream. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and scarring of the lung tissue. Recent clinical trials focused on the development of pharmacological agents that either directly or indirectly target kinases for the treatment of IPF. Therefore, to develop therapeutic targets for pulmonary fibrosis, it is essential to understand the key factors involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and the underlying signaling pathway. The objective of this review is to discuss the role of kinase signaling cascades in the regulation of either TGF-β-dependent or other signaling pathways, including Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase, c-jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5, and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase pathways, and potential therapeutic targets in IPF.