• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.874-880
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• 2010

A series of 13- and 14-membered cyclic enkephalin analogs based on the moderately $\mu$ selective prototype compound Tyr-C[D-$A_2bu$-Gly-Phe-Leu] 8a were synthesized to investigate the structure-activity relationship. The modifications of sequence were mainly focused on two positions 3 and 5, critical for the selective recognition for $\mu$ and $\delta$ opioid receptors. The substitution of hydrophobic $Leu^5$ with hydrophilic $Asp^5$ derivatives led to Tyr-C[D-$A_2bu$-Gly-Phe-Asp(N-Me)] 7 and Tyr-C[D-Glu-Phe-gPhe-rAsp(O-Me)] 5, the peptides with a large affinity losses at both $\mu$ and $\delta$ receptors. The substitution of $Phe^3$ with $Gly^3$ led to Tyr-C[D-Glu-Gly-gPhe-rLeu] 3 and Tyr-C[D-Glu-Gly-gPhe-D-rLeu] 4, the peptides with large affinity losses at $\mu$ receptors, indicating the critical role of phenyl ring of $Phe^3$ for $\mu$ receptor affinities. One atom reduction of the ring size from 14-membered analogs Tyr-C[D-Glu-Phe-gPhe-(L and D)-rLeu] 6a, 6b to 13-membered analogs Tyr-C[D-Asp-Phe-gPhe-(L and D)-rLeu] 1, 2 reduced the affinity at both $\mu$ and $\delta$ receptors, but increased the potency in the nociceptive assay, indicating the ring constrain is attributed to high nociceptive potency of the analogs. For the influence of D- or L-chirality of $Leu^5$ on the receptor selectivity, regardless of chirality and ring size, all cyclic diastereomers displayed marked $\mu$ selectivity with low potencies at the $\delta$ receptor. The retro-inverso analogs display similar or more active at $\mu$ receptor, but less active at $\delta$ receptor than the parent analogs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.801-806
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• 2002

Cyclicpeptides are important targets in peptide synthesis because of their interesting biological properties. Constraining highly flexible linear peptides by cyclization is one of the mostly widely used approaches to define the bioactive conformation of peptides. Cyclic peptides often have increased receptor affinity and metabolic stability over their linear counterparts. We carried out virtual screening experiment via docking in order to understand the interaction between HLE-Human Leukocyte Elastase and ligand peptide and to identify the sequence that can be a target in various ligand peptides. We made cyclic peptides as a target base on Metlle-Phe sequence having affinity for ligand and receptor active site docking. There are three ways to cyclize certain sequences of amino acids such as Met-lie-Phe-Gly-Ile. First is head-to-tail cyclization method, linking between N-terminal and C-terminal. Second method utilizes amino acid side chain such as thiol functional group in Cys, making a thioether bond. The last one includes an application of resin-substituted amino acids in solid phase reaction. Among the three methods, solid phase reaction showed the greatest yield. Macrocyclization of Fmoc-Met-Ile-Phe-Gly-Ile-OBn after cleavage of Fmoc protection in solution phase was carried out to give macrocyclic compound 5 in about 7% yield. In the contrast with solution phase reaction, solid phase reaction for macrocyclization of Met-Ile-Phe-Gly-Ile-Asp-Tentagel in normal concentrated condition gave macrocyclic compound 7 in more than 35% yield.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to clarify the effects of agarwood on histamine release from mast cells in rats and on the scratching behaviors in mice. Methods: Histamine release from rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or concanavalin A (Con A) and compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice were examined to investigate the effects of agarwood. The hyaluronidase activity and the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in mast cells were examined to investigate the mechanisms for the inhibition of histamine release. The correlation between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the content of its typical ingredients, a 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives, was analyzed using thin-layer chromatography. Results: Agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on mast-cell histamine release induced by compound 48/80 or Con A without any effect on hyaluronidase activity; this effect involves an increase in the cAMP levels in mast cells. Oral administration of agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice. The inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release were quite different, depending on the area where the agarwood was produced, its quality, and its market price. No correlation was found between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the typical ingredients of agarwood, which are 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives. Conclusion: These results show that agarwood inhibits histamine release from mast cells partially through an increase in the cAMP levels in cells. We suggest that some active ingredients of agarwood must be effective on oral intake and that agarwood can be used to treat patients with a number of conditions, including urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma, in which an increase in histamine release occurs. Differences in the pharmacological effects of this crude drug among markets may provide important information for the quality control of this herbal medicine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.4-12
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• 2022

Objective : We reported the differentially methylated genes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) using bioinformatics analyses to explore the biological characteristics of the development of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Methods : DNA methylation profiles obtained from 40 SAH patients from an epigenome-wide association study were analyzed. Functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and module analyses were carried out. Results : A total of 13 patients (32.5%) experienced DCI during the follow-up. In total, we categorized the genes into the two groups of hypermethylation (n=910) and hypomethylation (n=870). The hypermethylated genes referred to biological processes of organic cyclic compound biosynthesis, nucleobase-containing compound biosynthesis, heterocycle biosynthesis, aromatic compound biosynthesis and cellular nitrogen compound biosynthesis. The hypomethylated genes referred to biological processes of carbohydrate metabolism, the regulation of cell size, and the detection of a stimulus, and molecular functions of amylase activity, and hydrolase activity. Based on PPI network and module analysis, three hypermethylation modules were mainly associated with antigen-processing, Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport, and G alpha (i) signaling events, and two hypomethylation modules were associated with post-translational protein phosphorylation and the regulation of natural killer cell chemotaxis. VHL, KIF3A, KIFAP3, RACGAP1, and OPRM1 were identified as hub genes for hypermethylation, and ALB and IL5 as hub genes for hypomethylation. Conclusion : This study provided novel insights into DCI pathogenesis following SAH. Differently methylated hub genes can be useful biomarkers for the accurate DCI diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2017

Beauvericin (BEA), a cyclic hexadepsipeptide produced by the fungus Beauveria bassiana, is known to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial actions. However, how BEA suppresses macrophage-induced inflammatory responses has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory properties of BEA and the underlying molecular mechanisms using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Levels of nitric oxide (NO), mRNA levels of transcription factors and the inflammatory genes inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and interleukin (IL)-1, and protein levels of activated intracellular signaling molecules were determined by Griess assay, semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), luciferase reporter gene assay, and immunoblotting analysis. BEA dose-dependently blocked the production of NO in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells without inducing cell cytotoxicity. BEA also prevented LPS-triggered morphological changes. This compound significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ subunits p65 and p50. Luciferase reporter gene assays demonstrated that BEA suppresses MyD88-dependent NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. By analyzing upstream signaling events for $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and overexpressing Src and Syk, these two enzymes were revealed to be targets of BEA. Together, these results suggest that BEA suppresses $NF-{\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory responses by suppressing both Src and Syk.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.759-761
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• 2006

The compound B(C6F5)3 and its variations have been widely employed as alkyl carbanion abstracting reagents to produce metallocene cations for olefin polymerization.1-3 Weakly coordinating anions containing boron can greatly improve the activity of metallocene catalysts used in industrial olefin polymerization4 and thus group IV and V metallocene complexes of the organohydroborate anions have been intensively investigated.5 Recently, many organohydroborate metallocene complexes have been reported by Shore and co-workers.6-8 A common structural feature of those complexes is the three-center two electron M-H-B bond, like that observed in transition metal tetrahydroborate complexes but the reactivity and fluxional behavior of organohydroborate complexes are unlike those of the tetrahydroborate analogues.6 Although many of those metallocenes have been synthesized, few complexes could be used in the olefin polymerization and then this laboratory has been involved in the chemistry of the cyclic organohydroborate anions, and their group IV metallocene derivatives for the catalyst.9 Described here is recent work that led to the preparation of a novel cyclic organohydroborate hafnocene complex (h5-C5H5)2Hf ？(μ-H)2BC8H14 ,Cl. The hafnocene complex contains the three-center two electron bond Hf-H-B10 in which the hydride abstraction for olefin polymerization may occur.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2007

An electrochemical study related to the redox characteristics of Ethyl-3-acetyl-6-methyl-1, 4-diphenyl-4, 3a-dihydro-1, 3, 4-triazolino[3, 4-a] pyrimidine-5-carboxylate ester and its derivatives (1a-f) and (2a-e) in nonaqueous solvents such as 1, 2-dichloroethane (DCE), dichloromethane (DCM), acetonitrile (AN), dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and tetrahydrofurane (THF) using $0.1\;mol\;dm^{-3}$ tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) as a supporting electrolyte at platinum, glassy carbon and gold electrodes, has been performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Controlled potential electrolysis (CPE) is also carried out to elucidate the course of different electrochemical reactions through the separation and identification of the intermediates and final electrolysis products. The redox mechanism is suggested and proved. It was found that all the investigated compounds in all solvents are oxidized in a single irreversible one electron donating process following the well known pattern of the EC-mechanism to give a dimer. On the other hand, these compounds are reduced in a single irreversible one electron step to form the anion radical, which is basic enough to proton from the media forming the radical which undergoes tautomerization and then dimerization processes to give also another bis-compound through N-N linkage formation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.535-542
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• 1996

Seven isoazamitosene derivatives, mitomycin analogues, were synthesized and tested for cytotoxicities against leukemia and gastric cancer cell lines. Preparation of a pyrrolo[1, 2-a]benzimidazole (3) (azamitosene ring system) was completed by utilizing the Lewis acid-catalized cyclization, with .omicron.-chloronitrotoluene as the starting material. Nitration of 3 produced a mixtue of two isomers (5-nitro isomer (4) and 7-nitro isomer (5)) in product ratio of 36 : 52. 4 was directly converted into quinone (7) by reduction and Fremy oxidaton. Finally, quinone derivatives (8, 9, 10, and 11) were synthesized by 1, 4-addition of 7 with cyclic secondary amines. From above-mentioned 5, 8-nitro compound (15) was prepared in 4 steps. At pH 3, Fremy oxidation of 15 produced quinone (16), whereas iminoquinone derivatives (17a and 17b) at pH 7. Isoazamitosene derivatives (8, 9, 10, and 11), containing cyclic amino groups at the 7-position, showed potent cytotoxicity on P388, SNU-1, and KHH tumor cell lines. Among them, 8 had stronger cytotoxicity against SNU-1 cell line than mitomycin and adriamycin. Considering these results, isoazamitosene derivatives may had unique cytotoxicity profiles. However, isoiminoazamitosene derivatives (17a and 17b) revealed very weak cytotoxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.361-369
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• 2010

A study on the corrosion inhibition of metals is important in many industrial applications (carbon steel, copper, aluminum, SUS 304, nickel). In this study, we investigated the C-V diagrams related to the surface corrosion of metals. It was observed through the SEM that the surface corrosion state of the various metals had the corrosion potential by the scan rate and the organic inhibitor containing an amine group. We determined to measure cyclic voltammetry using the three-electrode system. The measurement of oxidation and reduction ranged from -1350mV to 1650mV. The scan rate was 50, 100, 150, and 200mV/s. It turned out that the C-V characterization of SUS 304 was irreversible process caused by the oxidation current from the cyclic voltammogram. After adding organic inhibitors, the adsorption film was constituted, and the passive phenomena happened. As a result, it was revealed that the inhibition effect of metal corrosion depends on the molecular interaction, and the interaction has influence on the adsorption complex.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2023

Discovery of new substance that can regulate platelet aggregation or suppress aggregation will aid in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Artesunate is a compound from plant roots of Artemisia or Scopolia, and its effects have shown to be promising in areas of anticancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the role and mechanisms by which artesunate affects the aggregation of platelets, and the formation of a thrombus are currently not understood. This study examined the ways artesunate affects platelets activation and thrombus formation induced by collagen. As a result, cAMP and cGMP production were increased significantly by artesunate relative to the doses, as well as phosphorylated VASP and IP₃R, substrates to cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP-dependent kinase, in a significant manner. The Ca²⁺ normally mobilized from the dense tubular system was inhibited due to IP₃R, phosphorylation from artesunate, and phosphorylated VASP aided in inhibiting platelet activity via αIIb/β₃ platelet membrane inactivation and inhibiting fibrinogen binding. Finally, artesunate inhibited thrombin-induced thrombus formation. Therefore, we suggest that artesunate has importance with cardiovascular diseases stemming from the abnormal platelets activation and thrombus formation by acting as an effective prophylactic and therapeutic agent.