• 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.

• 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 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 $30^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.681-686
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• 2010

Two different MFC designs were evaluated in batch mode: single compartment combined membrane-electrodes (SCME) design and twin-compartment brush-type anode electrodes (TBE) design (single chamber with two air cathodes and brush anodes at each side of the reactor). In SCME MFC, carbon anode and cathode electrodes were assembled with a proton exchange membrane (PEM). TBE MFC was consisted of brush-type anode and carbon cloth cathode electrodes without the PEM. A brush-type anode was fabricated with carbon fibers and was placed close to the cathode electrode to reduce the internal resistance. Substrates used in this study were glucose, leachate from cattle manure, or sucrose at different concentrations with phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of 200 mM to increase the conductivity thereby reduce the internal resistance. Hydrogen generating bacteria (HGB) were only inoculated in TBE MFC. The peak power densities ($P_{peak}$) produced from the SCME systems fed with glucose and leachate were 18.8 and $28.7mW/m^2$ at external loads of 1000 ohms, respectively. And the $P_{peak}$ produced from TBE MFC were 40.1 and $18.3mW/m^2$ at sucrose concentration of 5 g/L and external loads of 470 ohms, with a mediator (2-hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone) and without the mediator, respectively. The maximum power density ($P_{max}$) produced from mediator present TBE MFC was $115.3mW/m^2$ at 47 ohms of an external resistor.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2005

Research was undertaken to compare the pharmacological activity of Lithospermi radix (LR) reported as an oriental medicine for classical uses. LR contains naphthoquinone pigments : shikonin, acetylshikonin, isobutylshikonin, etc. LR is used for the treatment of excision wound, burn, eczema, blister, scarlatina and septicemia as antifebrile, antidotic and antiphlogistic. Gardeniae fructus (GF) has been used for the treatment to jaundice, hepatic disease, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and it contains crocin, geniposide and its derivatives. The therapeutic effects of burn and excision wound healing from LR & GF hydrogel with $Nano-ATP^{\circledR}$ (GLN) were investigated. To evaluate the therapeutic value of various hydrogels, thermal burn model and excision wound mouse model were used. The burn and wound reduction rate and therapeutic period were measured to calculate the healing extent after 5 experiments. The 2nd degree burn was prepared on hairless mouse back skin and dressing with collagen. The burn and wound reduction rate of GLN hydrogel treated group decreased more rapidly than that of other gel group in animal model. Furthermore therapeutic periods of GLN hydrogel treated group was shorter than that of other gel group. In anti-inflammatory test, GLN hydrogel treated group decreased edema rapidly than that of other gel group. These results suggest that the GLN hydrogel treatment has an therapeutic effect on burn and excision wound healing.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1982

For the effective control of weeds in mechanically transplanted paddy field weeding effects of naproanide ${\alpha}$-(${\beta}$-naphthoxy) propion anilide], pyrazolate [4-2, 4-dichlorobenzoyl)-1, 3-dimethyl pyrazol-5-yl-p-tolune sulphanate], chlormethoxynil (2, 4-dichloro-phenyl-4-nitro-3-methoxy phenyl ether), SL-49 [1-3dimethyl-4(2, 4dichlorobenzoyl)-5-phenacyloxy pyrazole], ACN (3-chloro-2-amino-l, 4-naphthoquinone) either alone or in combination with butachlor (2-chlor-2, 6-diethyl-N-buthoxymethyl acetanilide) were compared. Pyrazolate and SL-49 were most effective for the control of Sagittaria pygmaea MIQ. and Potomogeton distinctus A. BENN. including most annual weeds. Weeding effect of butachlor alone was very high for annuals, good for Cyperus serotinus ROTTB. and poor for S. pygmaea and P. distinctus. But the weeding effect of the combination of butachlor and pyrazolate was stronger than that of butachlor alone and therefore this mixture was effective for S. pygmaea, P. distinctus and C. serotinus including all the annual weeds. The combination of butachlor and SL-49 showed the same tendency as the combination of butachlor and pyrazolate. Naproanilide was not effective for the control of Echinochlor crusgalli P. BEAUV and less effective for Monochoria vaginalis PRESL, but excellent for S. pygmaea. By mixing butachlor with naproanilide weeding, spectrum for annuals and S. pygmaea was much increased by that for P. distinctus and C. serotinus was not satisfactory. ACN was not satisfactory for the control of all the tested weeds but the weeding effect was increased in general by mixing with butachlor. Chlormethoxynil was excellent for the control of annual weeds but it has no effect on C. serotinus, S. pygmaea and P. distinctus showing some initial controling effect but these weeds regrew afterwards. The weeding activity of ACN increased in combination with butachlor and the residual activity was stronger than that of ACN alone. A light crop injury was found at the initial period after treatments in all treated plots. The yield from all treated plots except those from plots treated with ACN, butachlor and naproanilide were not significantly different from the band weeded plot.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2009

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has been known well as one of traditional medicine for fever reduction, detoxication, and blood circulation improvement. This study was carried out to isolate biological active compounds from roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and to investigate their low density lipoprotein (LDL) antioxidant and anticancer activities. The hexane extract of Lithospermi Radix has been separated on silica gel chromatography and a naphthoquinone pigment compound 1 has been isolated. The structure of the compound 1 has been identified by spectroscopic technique, including MS and NMR, as acetylshikonin (1). Acetylshikonin showed significantly inhibitory activity on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human LDL oxidation with $IC_{50}$ value of $8.8\;{\mu}M$ and obvious anticancer effect by inhibiting farnesyl:protein transferase (FPTase) activity with $IC_{50}$ value of $23\;{\mu}M$, which suggested that acetylshikonin might be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis and cancer.

• 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.