• Title/Summary/Keyword: Biophysics

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HR-MAS NMR Technique for Metabolic Profiling of Powdery Ginseng

  • Yoon, Dahye;Jo, Ick-Hyun;Kim, Suhkmann
    • Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.82-86
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    • 2016
  • Ginseng is used as a medicinal ingredient. The quality control of species, age, origin and manufacturing process is important. The metabolome of ginseng about quality was studied in many reports. Almost studies carried out the extract of ginseng, however, the reproducibility cannot be obtained using extracted sample. In this study, powdery ginseng samples were analyzed using high resolution-magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR)-based metabolomics except extraction step. Sample was measured three times using 600 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with nano probe. Reproducibility can be enhanced using this method and the metabolic profiles of ginseng were identified and quantified.

Characteristics of CCh-activated Nonselective Cation Channel in Gastric Smooth Muscle Cells.

  • Kang, Tong-Mook;Kim, Young-Chul;Rhee, Poong-Lyul;So, In-Suk;Rhee, Jong-Chul;Uhm, Dae-Yong;Kim, Ki-Whan
    • Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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    • 1997.07a
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    • pp.26-26
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    • 1997
  • In the present study, we recorded CCh-activated nonselective cation (NSC) current in guinea-pig gastric smooth muscle cells and investigated the characteristics of the current. In whole-cell voltage-clamp mode, CCh activated NSC current. The same NSC current could be activated by internal dialysis of GTP${\gamma}$S.(omitted)

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Multispectral intravital microscopy for simultaneous bright-field and fluorescence imaging of the microvasculature

  • Barry G. H. Janssen;Mohamadreza Najiminaini;Yan Min Zhang;Parsa Omidi;Jeffrey J. L. Carson
    • Applied Microscopy
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    • v.51
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    • pp.12.1-12.12
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    • 2021
  • Intravital video microscopy permits the observation of microcirculatory blood flow. This often requires fluorescent probes to visualize structures and dynamic processes that cannot be observed with conventional bright-field microscopy. Conventional light microscopes do not allow for simultaneous bright-field and fluorescent imaging. Moreover, in conventional microscopes, only one type of fluorescent label can be observed. This study introduces multispectral intravital video microscopy, which combines bright-field and fluorescence microscopy in a standard light microscope. The technique enables simultaneous real-time observation of fluorescently-labeled structures in relation to their direct physical surroundings. The advancement provides context for the orientation, movement, and function of labeled structures in the microcirculation.

A Novel Phototransduction Pathway in the Pineal Gland and Retina

  • Okano, Toshiyuki;Kasahara, Takaoki;Fukada, Yoshitaka
    • Journal of Photoscience
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.246-248
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    • 2002
  • Light is a major environmental signal for entrainment of the circadian clock, but little is known about the phototransduction pathway triggered by light-activation of photoreceptive molecule(s) responsible for the phase shift of the clock in vertebrates. The chicken pineal gland and retina contain the autonomous circadian oscillators together with the photic entrainment pathway, and hence they provide useful experimental model for the clock system. We previously demonstrated the expression and light-dependent activation of rod-type transducin $\alpha$-subunit (Gtl$\alpha$) in the chicken pineal gland. It is unlikely, however, that the pineal Gt$_1$$\alpha$ plays a major role in the photic entrainment, because the light-induced phase shift is unaffected by bloking the signaling function of Gt$_1$$\alpha$. Here, we show the expression of G 11 $\alpha$, an $\alpha$-subunit of another heterotrimeric G-protein, in the chicken pineal gland and retina by cDNA cloning, Northern blot and Western blot analyses. GIl$\alpha$-immunoreactivity was colocalized with pinopsin in the chicken pineal cells and it was found predominantly at the outer segments of photoreceptor cells in the retinal sections, suggesting functional coupling of G11 $\alpha$ with opsins in the both the tissues. By coimmunoprecipitation experiments using the retina, we showed the light- and GTP-dependent interaction between rhodopsin and G11 $\alpha$. Upon ectopic expression of a Gq/ 11-coupled receptor in cultured pineal cells, pharmacological (non-photic) activation of endogenous G11 induced phase-dependent phase shifts of the melatonin rhythm in a manner very similar to the effect of light. These results suggested opsin-G11 pathway contributing to the photic entrainment of the circadian clock.

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DH332, a Synthetic β-Carboline Alkaloid, Inhibits B Cell Lymphoma Growth by Activation of the Caspase Family

  • Gao, Pan;Tao, Ning;Ma, Qin;Fan, Wen-Xi;Ni, Chen;Wang, Hui;Qin, Zhi-Hai
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.9
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    • pp.3901-3906
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    • 2014
  • Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate anti-tumor effects and safety of DH332, a new ${\beta}$-carboline alkaloids derivatives in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: The effects of DH332 on human (RAMOS RA.1) and mouse (J558) B lymphoma cell lines were detected using a CCK-8 kit (Cell Counting Kit-8), and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with PI/annexinV staining. Western blotting was used to detected caspase-3 and caspase-8. Neurotoxic and anti-tumor effects were evaluated in animal experiments. Results: DH332 exerts a lower neurotoxicity compared with harmine. It also possesses strong antitumor effects against two B cell lymphoma cell lines with low $IC_{50s}$. Moreover, DH332 could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of RAMOS RA.1 and J558 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that DH332 triggers apoptosis by mainly activating the caspase signaling pathway. In vivo studies of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice showed that DH332 significantly inhibited growth of J558 xenograft tumors. Conclusions: DH332 exerts effective antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo, and has the potential to be a promising drug candidate for lymphoma therapy.

Moderate Elevation of Extracellular $K^+$ Concentration Induces Vasorelaxation in Isolated Rat, Rabbit and Human Cerebral Arteries: Role of Na Pump and Ba-Sensitive Process

  • Kim, Dong-Ho;Kim, Sung-Joon;Lee, Sang-Jin;Park, Sung-Jin;Kim, Ki-Whan
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.2 no.6
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    • pp.705-714
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    • 1998
  • Cerebral blood vessels relax when extracellular $K^+$ concentrations $([K^+])_e$ are elevated moderately $(2{\sim}15$ mM, $K^+-induced$ vasorelaxation). We have therefore studied the underlying mechanism for this $K^+-induced$ vasorelaxation in the isolated middle cerebral arteries (MCAs). The effects of ouabain and $Ba^{2+}\;on\;K^+-induced$ vasorelaxation were examined to determine the role of sodium pump and/or Ba-sensitive process (possibly, inward rectifier K current) in the mechanism. Mulvany myograph was used to study 24 rats, 18 rabbits, and 10 humans MCAs $(216{\pm}3\;{\mu}m,\;347{\pm}7\;{\mu}m,\;and\;597{\pm}39\;{\mu}m$ in diameter when stretched to a tension equivalent to 55 mmHg). High $K^+$ (125 mM) and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}\;(1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$ induced concentration-dependent contractions in all 3 species, while histamine $(10{\sim}50\;{\mu}M)$ evoked contraction only in the rabbits and induced relaxation in the rats and humans. Addition of $K^+\;(2{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$ to the control solution induced vasorelaxations. These effects were inhibited by the pretreatment with both ouabain $(10\;{\mu}M)$ and $Ba^{2+}\;(0.1{\sim}0.3\;mM)$ in the rat, but only with ouabain $(10\;{\mu}M)$ in the rabbit and human. These results suggest that $K^+-induced$ vasorelaxation occurs via the stimulation of electrogenic Na pump in the rabbit and human MCAs, while in the rat MCAs via the activation of both Na pump and Ba-sensitive process.

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