• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.396-404
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• 2011

An investigation on the removals of PAH-quinone compounds, which are commonly produced from the biological and/or chemical treatments of PAH-contaminated soils, from the aqueous phase via birnessite (${\delta}-MnO_2$)-mediated oxidative transformation is described. It was demonstrated that acenaphthenequinone (APQ), p-PAH quinone can be removed via birnessite-mediated oxidative-coupling reactions, and anthraquinone (AQ) and 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NPQ), o-PAH quinones were efficiently removed by birnessite-mediated cross-coupling reactions in the presence of catechol (CAT) as a reactive mediator. The removals of PAH-quinone compounds followed pseudo-first-order reactions, and the rate constant (k, $hr^{-1}$) for the removals of 1,4-NPQ under the experiment conditions (1,4-NPQ = 10 mg/L, CAT = 50 mg/L, ${\delta}-MnO_2$ = 1.0 g/L, pH 5, Reaction time = 6~96 hr) was 0.0426, which was about 4 times lower than that of APQ (0.173). With the observed pseudo-first order rate constants with respect to birnessite loadings under the same experimental conditions, the surface-normalized specific rate constant, $K_{surf}$, for 1,4-NPQ was determined to be $8.5{\times}10^{-4}L/m^2{\cdot}hr$. The analysis of the kinetic data with respect to birnessite loading indicated that the cross-coupling reactions of 1,4-NPQ consist of two different reaction steps over time and the results have also been discussed in terms of the reaction mechanisms.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2007

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, EC 1.1.1.49) in Deinococcus radiophilus, an extraordinarily UV-resistant bacterium, was investigated to gain insight into its resistance as it was shown to be involved in a scavenging system of superoxide $(O_2^{-1})$ and peroxide $(O_2^{-2})$ generated by UV and oxidative stresses. D. radiophilus possesses two G6PDH isoforms: G6PDH-1 and G6PDH-2, both showing dual coenzyme specificity for NAD and NADP. Both enzymes were detected throughout the growth phase; however, the substantial increase in G6PDH-1 observed at stationary phase or as the results of external oxidative stress indicates that this enzyme is inducible under stressful environmental conditions. The G6PDH-1 and G6PDH-2 were purified 122- and 44-fold (using NADP as cofactor), respectively. The purified G6PDH-1 and G6PDH-2 had the specific activity of 2,890 and 1,033 U/mg protein (using NADP as cofactor) and 3,078 and 1,076 U/mg protein (using NAD as cofactor), respectively. The isoforms also evidenced distinct structures; G6PDH-1 was a tetramer of 35 kDa subunits, whereas G6PDH-2 was a dimer of 60kDa subunits. The pIs of G6PDH-1 and G6PDH-2 were 6.4 and 5.7, respectively. Both G6PDH-1 and G6PDH-2 were inhibited by both ATP and oleic acid, but G6PDH-1 was found to be more susceptible to oleic acid than G6PDH-2. The profound inhibition of both enzymes by ${\beta}-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic$ acid suggests the involvement of lysine at their active sites. $Cu^{2+}$ was a potent inhibitor to G6PDH-2, but a lesser degree to G6PDH-1. Both G6PDH-1 and G6PDH-2 showed an optimum activity at pH 8.0 and $30^{\circ}C$.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-118
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• 2009

Cell death induced by menadione (vitamin K-3,2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) has been investigated in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Menadione was found to induce both apoptosis and necrosis in HL-60 cells. Low concentration ($1{\sim}$50 ${\mu}$M) of menadione induced apoptotic cell death, which was demonstrated by typical DNA ladder patterns on agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. In contrast, a high concentration of menadione (100 ${\mu}$M) induced necrotic cell death, which was demonstrated by DNA smear pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. Necrotic cell death was accompanied with a great reduction of cell viability. Menadione activated caspase-3, as evidenced by both increased protease activity and proteolytic cleavage of 116 kDa poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) into 85 kDa cleavage product. Caspase-3 activity was maximum at 50 ${\mu}$M of menadione, and very low at 100 ${\mu}$M of menadione. Taken together, our results showed that menadione induced mixed types of cell death, apoptosis at low concentrations and necrosis at high concentrations in HL-60 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.145-153
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• 1996

Naphthoquinone-1,2-diazide-5-sulfonyl[NDAS] derivatives members of quinone diazide compound that are utilizable as photosensitive polymer material were synthesized, and photoresist were prepared by mixing these derivatives with m-cresol novolak(a matrix resin) at various weight ratios. Photosensitive characteristics of photoresist were studied by examining UV and IR, relative sensitivity using a Gray scale method, and SEM to analyze if they can be used as photosensitive material in printing process. Experimental results showed that, by UV, NDAS derivatives were photoconverted and developer-soluble photoresist were produced. The mixing ratio of 1:4(by mass) of NDAS+p-ydroxybenzophenone+sensitizer and m-cresol novolak gave rise to the highest dissolution rate. In addition, photoresist obtained at this condition resulted in the most superior sensitivity and contrast.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.687-694
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• 2017

Plumbagin, a hydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinone compound from plant metabolites, exhibits anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities via modulating various signaling molecules. However, its effects on vascular functions are rarely studied except in pulmonary and coronary arteries where NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibition was suggested as a mechanism. Here we investigate the effects of plumbagin on the contractility of skeletal artery (deep femoral artery, DFA), mesenteric artery (MA) and renal artery (RA) in rats. Although plumbagin alone had no effect on the isometric tone of DFA, $1{\mu}M$ phenylephrine (PhE)-induced partial contraction was largely augmented by plumbagin (${\Delta}T_{Plum}$, 125% of 80 mM KCl-induced contraction at $1{\mu}M$). With relatively higher concentrations (>$5{\mu}M$), plumbagin induced a transient contraction followed by tonic relaxation of DFA. Similar biphasic augmentation of the PhE-induced contraction was observed in MA and RA. VAS2870 and GKT137831, specific NOX4 inhibitors, neither mimicked nor inhibited ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ in DFA. Also, pretreatment with tiron or catalase did not affect ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ of DFA. Under the inhibition of PhE-contraction with L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker (nifedipine, $1{\mu}M$), plumbagin still induced tonic contraction, suggesting $Ca^{2+}$-sensitization mechanism of smooth muscle. Although ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ was consistently observed under pretreatment with Rho A-kinase inhibitor (Y27632, $1{\mu}M$), a PKC inhibitor (GF 109203X, $10{\mu}M$) largely suppressed ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$. Taken together, it is suggested that plumbagin facilitates the PKC activation in the presence of vasoactive agonists in skeletal arteries. The biphasic contractile effects on the systemic arteries should be considered in the pharmacological studies of plumbagin and 1,4-naphthoquinones.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2000

The photosensory ciliates Blepharisma japonicum and Stentor coeruleus use the hypericin-derived pigments blepharismin and stentorin, respectively, as photoreceptor chromophores. Fluorescence quenching studies have shown that the first excited singlet state of hypericin and the purified chromophores blepharismin and stentorin can be deactivated by electron transfer to an acceptor molecule with a suitable reducing potential [1,2]. This paper reports the result of a series of photobehavioral experiments performed with the aim to ascertain if the same electron accepters which quench the photoreceptor pigment fluorescence in vitro may also compete with the native acceptor molecule in its natural physiological environment. Individual cell trajectories were examined before and after light stimulation, in the presence and in the absence of potential "in vivo" electron accepters, with a microvideo-recording apparatus. Our data, on Blepharisma cells, showed that as the negative reduction potential of the electron acceptor increases, a pronounced decrease in cell photoresponsiveness was detected. A dramatic effect on cell photoresponsiveness was noticed in the presence of 1,4-benzoquinone that has the lowest negative reduction potential. Such an effect on the percentage of photoreacting cells was moderate in the case of 1,4-naphthoquinone, with a relatively higher negative reduction potential. In the presence of benzophenone, which has the highest negative reduction potential, no significant effect on photoreacting cells was noticed. Our results can support the hypothesis that in the pigment granules such a light-induced charge transfer from excited blepharismin to a suitable electron acceptor triggers sensory transduction processes in B. japonicum.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.110.3-111
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• 2003

In the previous studies, we have reported that NQ30l, a synthetic l,4-naphthoquinone derivative, displayed a potent antithrombotic activity, and that this might be due to antiplatelet effect, which was mediated by inhibition of cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization in activated platelets. In the present study, the effect of NQ301 on arachidonic acid cascade in activated platlets was examined. NQ301 concentration-dependently inhibited washed rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen (10 $\mu$g/ml), arachidonic acid (100 $\mu$M) and U46619 (1 $\mu$M), a thromboxane $A_2$receptor agonist, with $IC_50$ values of 0.60$\pm$0.02, 0.79$\pm$0.04 and 0.58$\pm$0.04 $\mu$M, respectively. (omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 2019

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta. In the present study, we investigated whether ${\beta}-Lapachone$ (${\beta}-LAP$), a natural naphthoquinone compound isolated from the lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae), elicits neuroprotective effects in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease mouse model. ${\beta}-LAP$ reduced the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive fiber loss induced by MPTP in the dorsolateral striatum, and alleviated motor dysfunction as determined by the rotarod test. In addition, ${\beta}-LAP$ protected against MPTP-induced loss of TH positive neurons, and upregulated B-cell lymphoma 2 protein (Bcl-2) expression in the substantia nigra. Based on previous reports on the neuroprotective role of nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) in neurodegenerative diseases, we investigated whether ${\beta}-LAP$ induces upregulation of the Nrf2-hemeoxygenae-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway molecules in MPTP-injected mouse brains. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that ${\beta}-LAP$ increased HO-1 expression in glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes. Moreover, ${\beta}-LAP$ increased the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of Nrf2, and the phosphorylation of upstream adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). ${\beta}-LAP$ also increased the localization of p-AMPK and Nrf2 in astrocytes. Collectively, our data suggest that ${\beta}-LAP$ exerts neuroprotective effect in MPTP-injected mice by upregulating the p-AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways in astrocytes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.949-954
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• 2023

Type III polyketide synthase (PKS) found in bacteria is known as 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene synthase (THNS). Microbial type III PKSs synthesize various compounds that possess crucial biological functions and significant pharmaceutical activities. Based on our sequence analysis, we have identified a putative type III polyketide synthase from Nocardia sp. CS682 was named as ThnA. The role of ThnA, in Nocardia sp. CS682 during the biosynthesis of 1,3,6,8 tetrahydroxynaphthalene(THN), which is the key intermediate of 1-(α-L-(2-O-methyl)-6-deoxymannopyranosyloxy)-3,6,8-trimethoxynaphthalene (IBR-3) was characterized. ThnA utilized five molecules of malonyl-CoA as a starter substrate to generate the polyketide 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene, which could spontaneously be oxidized to the red flaviolin compound 2,5,7-trihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. The amino acid sequence alignment of ThnA revealed similarities with a previously identified type III PKS and identified Cys¹³⁸, Phe¹⁸⁸, His²⁷⁰, and Asn³⁰³ as four highly conserved active site amino acid residues, as found in other known polyketide synthases. In this study, we report the heterologous expression of the type III polyketide synthase thnA in S. lividans TK24 and the identification of THN production in a mutant strain. We also compared the transcription level of thnA in S. lividans TK24 and S. lividans pIBR25-thnA and found that thnA was only transcribed in the mutant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.547-554
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• 2010

In this study, new manganese oxide (i.e., black-birnessite) particles with nanostructures were prepared and its physico-chemical properties and oxidative-transformation efficiency on 1,4-naphthoquinine(1,4-NPQ) in the presence of reactive mediator was investigated. The results were also compared with that of the manganese oxide (i.e., brown-birnessite) particles synthesized by classical McKenzie method. Analysis of XRD and SEM data show that the particles are a single phase corresponding to a birnessite-based manganese oxide with cotton ball-like shapes containing nanofibers. In batch experiments, removals of 1,4-NPQ by the black-birnessite follows pseudo-first-order kinetics and the rate constant values obtained are greater about 2.3 times than that of the brown-birnessite in spite of its lower surface area (41.0 vs 19.80 $m^2/g$). The results can be explained by the higher crystallinity and nano structured features of the back-birnessite particles, which give higher reactivity for the removals of the quinone compound. HPLC analysis of the reaction products confirmed that the balck-birnessites removed 1,4-NPQ through cross-coupling reaction in the presence of catechol as a reactive mediator.