• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.2487-2490
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• 2013

SA51, a medium potency inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), was identified to be a potent inhibitor of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase ${\beta}$ ($IKK{\beta}$). Consistent with this, SA51 prevented lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced breakdown of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ in macrophages. The effects of SA51 in mice were compared with those of structurally related compounds, SA18 and SA32, which were previously reported as inhibitors of both enzymes - less potent against $IKK{\beta}$ but more potent against PTP1B compared to SA51. SA51 improved glucose tolerance and lipid parameters in mice, consistent with the results reported for $IKK{\beta}^{+/-}$ mice. In contrast, SA18 and SA32 showed anti-obesity effects without anti-diabetic effects. Collectively, the effects of SA51 could be due largely to the inhibition of $IKK{\beta}$, whereas SA18 and SA32 may be more likely to inhibit PTP1B, consistent with their relative in vitro inhibitory effects.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1971

The reaction of amino acids and the reactive hydroxyl radical generated by $Ti^{3+}-H_2O_2$ system was studied using fast flow techniques coupled with ESR. Upon adding methionine to the 0.2M $H_2O_2$ solution (0.05M methionine after addition) and mixing with 0.01M $TiCl_3$, the low field component of the two incompletely resolved peaks, in the spectrum of $Ti^{3+}-H_2O_2$ system alone, vanished completely whereas the high field component remained almost constant and superimposed on the secondary spectrum of the methionine free radical. Similar results were obtained for other amino acids and proteins. The results strongly demonstrate that the $T^{3+}-H_2O_2$ flow system generates two different radical species, only one of which, giving rise to the low field component, is alone responsible for abstracting hydrogen atoms from substrate molecules. The effects of HCl, $H_2SO_4$ and NaOH on the system were also studied with widely varying results.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.547-551
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• 2003

In the present work, the interaction of three water soluble porphyrins, tetra(p-trimethyle) ammonium phenyl porphyrin iodide (TAPP) as a cationic porphyrin, tetra sodium meso-tetrakis (p-sulphonato phenyle) porphyrin (TSPP) as an anionic porphyrin and manganese tetrakis (p-sulphonato phenyl) porphinato acetate (MnTSPP) as a metal porphyrin, with histone H₂B have been studied by isothermal titration microcalorimetry at 8 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.8 and 27 °C. The values of binding constant, entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy changes for binding of the first MnTSPP, and first and second TSPP and TAPP molecules were estimated from microcalorimetric data analysis. The results represent that the process is both entropy and enthalpy driven and histone induces self-aggregation of the porphyrins. The results indicate that both columbic and hydrophobic interactions act as self-aggregation driving forces for the formation of aggregates around histone.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2004

We developed a cardiac cell model to explain the phenomenon of mechano-electric feedback (MEF), based on the experimental data with rat atrial myocytes. It incorporated the activity of ion channels, pumps, exchangers, and changes of intracellular ion concentration. Changes in membrane excitability and $Ca^{2+}$ transients could then be calculated. In the model, the major ion channels responsible for the stretch-induced changes in electrical activity were the stretch-activated channels (SACs). The relationship between the extent of stretch and activation of SACs was formulated based on the experimental findings. Then, the effects of mechanical stretch on the electrical activity were reproduced. The shape of the action potential (AP) was significantly changed by stretch in the model simulation. The duration was decreased at initial fast phase of repolarization (AP duration at 20% repolarization level from 3.7 to 2.5 ms) and increased at late slow phase of repolarization (AP duration at 90% repolarization level from 62 to 178 ms). The resting potential was depolarized from -75 to -61 mV. This mathematical model of SACs may quantitatively predict changes in cardiomyocytes by mechanical stretch.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2007

The identification and characterization of antigens that elicit human T cell responses is an important step toward understanding of Leishmania major infection and ultimately in the development of a vaccine. Micropreparative SDS-PAGE followed by electro transfer to a PVDF membrane and elution of proteins from the PVDF, was used to separate 2 novel proteins from L. major promastigotes, which can induce antibodies of the IgG2a isotype in mice and also are recognized by antisera of recovered human cutaneous leishmaniasis subjects. Fractionation of the crude extract of L. major revealed that all detectable proteins of interest were present within the soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA). Quantitation of these proteins showed that their expression in promastigotes is relatively very low. Considering the molecular weight, immunoreactivity, chromatographic and electrophoretic behavior in reducing and non-reducing conditions, these proteins are probably 2 isoforms of a single protein. A digest of these proteins was resolved on Tricine-SDS-PAGE and immunoreactive fragments were identified by human sera. Two immunoreactive fragments (36.4 and 34.8 kDa) were only generated by endoproteinase Glu-C treatment. These immunoreactive fragments or their parent molecules may be ideal candidates for incorporation in a cocktail vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.193-196
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• 2013

Haemoglobin is an interesting physiologically significant protein composed of specific functional prosthetic haem and globin moieties. In recent decades, there has been substantial interest in attempting to understand the structural basis and functional diversity of avian haemoglobins (Hbs). Towards this end, purification, crystallization, preliminary X-ray diffraction and molecular-replacement studies have been carried out on Amaurornis phoenicurus Hb. Crystals were grown by the hanging drop vapor-diffusion method using PEG 2000 and NaCl as precipitants. The crystals belonged to the primitive monoclinic system $P2_1$, with unit-cell parameters $a=65.33{\AA}$, $b=93.14{\AA}$, $c=98.54{\AA}$, ${\beta}=100.48^{\circ}$; a complete data set was collected to a resolution of $2.6{\AA}$. The Matthews coefficient of $2.30{\AA}^3Da^{-1}$ for the crystal indicated the presence of two ${\alpha}_2{\beta}_2$ tetramers in the asymmetric unit.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.854-863
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• 2007

This study was performed to compare nutritional supplementation habits for Korean professional soccer players with those for the non-athletic male adults. Information about prevalence and kinds of supplements taken, information sources, nutrition knowledge were collected. Data were obtained from 53 football players working for Korean professional football clubs and 44 non-athletic males, who answered a list of questionnaires which had been prepared in advance. The prevalence of supplement use in the soccer player group (96%) was strikingly higher than in the nonathletic male group (34%). Vitamins were taken most frequently, followed by red ginseng, multivitamin, Chinese medicine and amino acids supplements in the soccer player group, with each player taking 2.96 kinds of supplements in average. Multivitamin was the most popular supplement in the non-athletic male group. The major reason for taking supplements was not to feel and recover from fatigue in both groups. It appeared that the non-athletic males started to use supplements mostly by recommendation of friends or colleagues. Meanwhile, soccer players took supplements on their needs, with half of them (50.1%) provided with nutrition information. The most important information source was coaches for soccer players group, and mass media for the non-athletic male group. The average scores of soccer players group on basic nutrition and athletic nutrition were lower than the respective values of the non-athletic males. Among the soccer players, 68% had taken more than 3 kinds of supplements during the last year; nonetheless, more than half could not perceive the effectiveness of the supplements. Our results show that supplementation practices were widespread in soccer players, and suggest that nutrition education for proper use of supplements and overall health care is needed for soccer players.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1075-1080
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• 2004

Dextransucrase (DSRB742) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-742CB is a glucosyltransferase that catalyzes the synthesis of dextran using sucrose, or the synthesis of oligosaccharides when acceptor molecules, like maltose, are present. The DSRB742 gene (dsrB742) was cloned and the properties were characterized. In order to identify critical amino acid residues, the DSRB742 amino acid sequence was aligned with glucosyltransferase sequences, and three amino acid residues reported as sucrose binding amino acids in Streptococcus glucosyltransferases were selected for site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Asp-533, Asp-536, and His-643 were independently replaced with Ala or Asn. D533A and D536A dextransucrases showed reduced dextran synthesis activities, 2.3% and 40.8% of DSRB742 dextransucrase, respectively, and D533N, D536N, H643A, end H643N dextransucrases showed complete suppression of dextran synthesis activities altogether. Additionally, D536N dextransucrase showed complete suppression of oligosaccharide synthesis activities. However, modifications at Asp-533 or at His-643 retained acceptor reaction activities in the range of 8.4% to 21.3% of DSRB742 acceptor reaction activity. Thus at least two carboxyl groups of Asp-533 and Asp-536, and His-643 as a proton donor, are essential for the catalysis process.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 1992

It is well known that chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla secrete catecholamine in response to sympathetic nerve activation and the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ through the voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VDCC) in the cell membrane do a major role in this secretory process. In this study, we explored the effect of divalent cations on VDCC of rat chromaffin cells. Rat (Sprague-Dawley rat, 150-250 gm) chromaffin cells were isolated and cultured. Standard giga seal, whole cell recording techniques were employed to study $Ca^{2+}$ current with external and internal solutions that could effectively isolate VDCC currents $(NMG\;in\;external\;and\;TEA\;and\;Cs^{2+}\;in\;internal\;solution)$. The voltage dependence and the inactivation time course of VDCC in our cells were identical to those of bovine chromaffin cells. A persistent inward current was first activated by depolarizing step pulse from the holding potential (H.P.) of -80 mV to -40 mV, increased to maximum amplitude at around +10 mV, and became smaller with progressively higher depolarizing pulses to reverse at around +60 mV. The inactivation time constant $(\tau)$, fitted from the long duration test potential (2 sec) was $1295.2{\pm}126.8$ msec $(n=20,\;1\;day\;of\;culture,\;mean\;{\pm}S.E.M.)$ and the kinetic parameters were not altered along the culture duration. Nicardipine $(10\;{\mu}M)$ blocked the current almost completely. Among treated divalent cations such as $Cd^{2+},\;Co^{2+},\;Ni^{2+},\;Zn^{2+}\;and\;,Mn^{2+},\;Cd^{2+}$ was the most potent blocker on VDCC. When the depolarizing step pulse from -80 mV to 10 mV was applied, the equilibrium dissociation constant $(K_d)$ of $Cd^{2+}\;was\;39\;{\mu}M,\;K_d\;of\;Co^{2+}\;was\;100\;{\mu}M\;and\;K_d\;of\;Ni^{2+}];was];780{\mu}M.$ The principal findings of this study are as follows. First, the majority of $Ca^{2+}$ channels in rat chromaffin cells are well classified to L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel in the view of kinetics and pharmacology. Second, all divalent cations tested could block the $Ca^{2+}$ current and the most potent blocker among the tested was $Cd^{2+}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 1998

ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels ($K_{ATP}$) were not identified in gastric smooth muscle cells. However, in tension recording of intact gastric circular muscle, lemakalim of $K_{ATP}$ channels opener in other tissues suppressed mechanical contractions and this effect was blocked by glibenclamide, a specific inhibitor of $K_{ATP}$ channels. The aims of this study were to investigate whether $K_{ATP}$ channels exist in gastric smooth muscle of guinea-pig and to know its physiological role. Whole cell $K^+$ currents activated by lemakalim were recorded from freshly isolated cells with a 0.1 mM ATP, 140 mM KCl pipette solutions. Lemakalim (10 ${\mu}M$) increased inward currents of $-224{\pm}34$ pA (n=13) at -80 mV of holding potential in bath solution contained 90 mM $K^+$. Bath-applied glibenclamide (10 ${\mu}M$) inhibited the lemakalim-activated inward currents by $91{\pm}6%$ (n=5). These lemakalim-activated inward currents were reduced by increased intracellular ATP from 0.1 to 3 mM ($-41{\pm}12$ pA) (n=5). The reversal potential of the glibenclamide- sensitive inward currents was $-5.2{\pm}2.4$ mV (n=3) in external 90 mM $K^+$ and shifted to $-14.8{\pm}3.6$ mV (n=3) in external 60 mM $K^+$, which close to equilibrium potential of $K^+$ ($E_K$). External barium and cesium inhibited the lemakalim-activated inward currents dose-dependently. The half-inhibitory dose ($IC_{50}$) of barium and cesium were 2.3 ${\mu}M$ (n=5) and 0.38 mM (n=4), respectively. 10 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) also inhibited the lemakalim-activated inward currents by $66{\pm}15%$ (n=5). Both substance P (SP) (5 ${\mu}M$) and acetylcholine (ACh) (5 ${\mu}M$) inhibited lemakalim-activated inward currents. These results suggest that $K_{ATP}$ channels exist in the gastric smooth muscle and its modulation by neurotransmitters may play an important role in regulating gastric motility.