• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.413-422
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigated the mechanism of pharmacological action of local anesthetic and provide the basic information about the development of new effective local anesthetics. Fluorescent probe techniques were used to evaluate the effect of lidocaine HCl on the physical properties (transbilayer asymmetric lateral and rotational mobility, annular lipid fluidity and protein distribution) of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from bovine cerebral cortex, and liposomes of total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from the SPMV. An experimental procedure was used based on selective quenching of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py-3-Py) and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) by trinitrophenyl groups, and radiationless energy transfer from the tryptophans of membrane proteins to Py-3-Py. Lidocaine HCl increased the bulk lateral and rotational mobility of neuronal and model membrane lipid bilayes, and had a greater fluidizing effect on the inner monolayer than the outer monolayer. Lidocaine HCl increased annular lipid fluidity in SPMV lipid bilayers. It also caused membrane proteins to cluster. The most important finding of this study is that there is far greater increase in annular lipid fluidity than that in lateral and rotational mobilities by lidocaine HCl. Lidocaine HCl alters the stereo or dynamics of the proteins in the lipid bilayers by combining with lipids, especially with the annular lipids. In conclusion, the present data suggest that lidocaine, in addition to its direct interaction with proteins, concurrently interacts with membrane lipids, fluidizing the membrane, and thus inducing conformational changes of proteins known to be intimately associated with membrane lipid.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2018

Mitochondrial calcium overload is a crucial event in determining the fate of neuronal cell survival and death, implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the driving forces of calcium influx into mitochondria is mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}_m$). Therefore, pharmacological manipulation of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ can be a promising strategy to prevent neuronal cell death against brain insults. Based on these issues, we investigated here whether nobiletin, a Citrus polymethoxylated flavone, prevents neurotoxic neuronal calcium overload and cell death via regulating basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ against neuronal insult in primary cortical neurons and pure brain mitochondria isolated from rat cortices. Results demonstrated that nobiletin treatment significantly increased cell viability against glutamate toxicity ($100{\mu}M$, 20 min) in primary cortical neurons. Real-time imaging-based fluorometry data reveal that nobiletin evokes partial mitochondrial depolarization in these neurons. Nobiletin markedly attenuated mitochondrial calcium overload and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in glutamate ($100{\mu}M$)-stimulated cortical neurons and isolated pure mitochondria exposed to high concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ($5{\mu}M$). Nobiletin-induced partial mitochondrial depolarization in intact neurons was confirmed in isolated brain mitochondria using a fluorescence microplate reader. Nobiletin effects on basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ were completely abolished in $K^+-free$ medium on pure isolated mitochondria. Taken together, results demonstrate that $K^+$ influx into mitochondria is critically involved in partial mitochondrial depolarization-related neuroprotective effect of nobiletin. Nobiletin-induced mitochondrial $K^+$ influx is probably mediated, at least in part, by activation of mitochondrial $K^+$ channels. However, further detailed studies should be conducted to determine exact molecular targets of nobiletin in mitochondria.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.584-589
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• 1995

To select new useful plants with antibacterial activity, ninety five sample of eighty different species of wild plants were collected, and extracted with methanol. Antibacterial activity of the methanol extracts was tested against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The methanol extracts from Artemisia capillaris, Hemistepta lyrata, Youngia japonica, Prunella vulgaris, Lamium amplexicaule and Juniperus chinensis was effective against all bacterial strains tested, and eight methanol extracts including Ixeris dentata, Gnaphalium affine, Chelidonium majus and Spiraea prunifolia exhibited the antibacterial activity against at least 3 bacterial strains. Methanol extracts from leaf of Syringa vulgaris, Drava nemorosa and clove of Erythronium japonicum showed a selective antibacterial activity against two gram negative bacteria, V. parahaemolyticus, and B. subtilis, respectively. With investigations on antibacterial activity against a certain bacterial strains tested, metahnol extracts from clove of Erythronium japonicum, Spiraea prunifolia, leaf and twig of Camelia japonica, and Drava nemorosa showed strongest activities against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, and V. parahaemolyticus, respectively. Nine methanol extracts based on the results were successively fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water portions, which were examined antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and V. parahaemolyticus. Among the all fractions tested, chloroform fractions of Hemistepta lyrata showed strongest antibacterial activity against both B. subtilis (17mm) and V. parahaemolyticus (29 mm). Chloroform fractions of Youngia japonica, n-hexane fractions of Artemisia capillaris, Iexeris dentata and Prunella vulgaris, and ethyl acetate fraction of leaf and twig of Camelia japonica showed relatively a strong antibacterial activity. On the other hand, Juniperus chinensis and Equisetum arvense was distributed to all fractions except for water fraction.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.129-133
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• 2012

To exploit plant growth promoting bacteria in the roots of Miscanthus sacchariflorus, a biomass energy crop, total 64 bacteria were isolated. For the investigation of plant growth promoting effects from the isolated bacteria, production of indole acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activities were tested and other cultural conditions were examined. As results, 8 isolates showed plant growth promoting effects on the M. sacchariflorus and an isolate designated Agrobacterium sp. BE516 has the highest activity by enhancing the shoot elongation over 2-fold than the control. Agrobacterium sp. BE516 produced 64 ${\mu}g$ IAA per mL and showed ACC deaminase activity which is involved in the resistance to environmental stress such as high salt and drought. It could grow at low temperature in the range from 4 to $15^{\circ}C$, at pH 4.0 and at 4% NaCl. These results indicate that the Agrobacterium sp. BE516 can be useful as a bio-fertilizer for M. sacchariflorus under the stressed conditions.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2018

Glaux maritima var. obtusifolia is distributed in very limited areas in South Korea and thus designated and protected as an endangered species. This study aimed to identify the diversity of vegetation in the Dangsa coast wetlands, the southern limit of G. maritima var. obtusifolia and to assess determinants of the vegetation and the importance of habitats. The phytosociological method of the $Z{\ddot{u}}rich-Montpellier$ School was used for vegetation classification and mathematical and statistical analyses were also conducted to analyze environmental factors and their relationship with the vegetation. The results of this study showed that there were 4 vegetation units in the Dangsa coast wetlands: Glaux maritima var. obtusifolia-Triglochin maritimum community (included three subcommunities), Puccinellia nipponica s.l. community, Beckmannia syzigachne-Isachne globosa community and Typha laxmannii-Phragmites communis community. It was also found that major determinants of the vegetation include moisture environment, soil depth, water level disturbance, vegetation height, community structure, etc. Glaux maritima was identified to grow most dominantly in the typicum subassociation of Glaux. maritima var. obtusifolia-Triglochin maritimum community, and the species compositions and dominant situations were observed to be similar to those in the southern limit in Japan, adjacent to South Korea. The assessment results indicated that the Dangsa coastal wetlands have a significant meaning from phytogeographical and syngeographical aspects, and contribute as a shelter for diverse species. It is required to establish conservation strategies to accurately determine the value of the wetlands of the Dangsa coast from various perspectives, and to protect and manage them.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.188-193
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• 1998

The authors examined the variations of environmental factors, the distributions of cyanobacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, and microorganisms that inhibit the growth of Anabaena cylindrica according to development and extinction of cyanobacterial bloom at a site in Daechung Dam reservoir. And certified the relationship between each other. Water temperature variated in a typical pattern. pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen and chlorophylla was high in bloom period, and lowered with the decline of bloom. Phosphorus played as a growth-limiting factor at this study site. Total nitrogen concentration increased during blooming period, which indicated that nitrogen has been fixed by aquatic organisms such as cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria distributed from June 17, and such cyanobacterial species as Anabaena spp., Aphanizomenon spp., Microcystis spp., Oscillatoria spp. and Phormidium spp. was detected during study period. Anabaena spp. distributed relatively highly distributed from July 23 to September 22, and disappeared completely at September 29. Heterotrophic bacterial and cyanobacterial populations varied inverse-proportionally. There was a relevancy between the variations of Anabaena spp., heterotrophic bacteria, and microorganisms that inhibit the growth of Anabaena cylindrica. Microorganisms that inhibit the growth of Anabaena cylindrica distributed from early growth phase of Anabaena spp. population to immediately after the extinction of Anabaena spp. With the population of Anabaena cylindrica growth-inhibiting microorganisms decreasing, increases of heterotrophic bacterial population followed it. Thease results indicate that microorganisms have a part in the extinction of cyanobacterial bloom, especially at its destroying period.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.23 no.4 s.75
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• pp.332-339
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• 1995

Water-soluble polysaccharide (FCW) was extracted from the fruiting body of Fomitella fraxinea with neutral sodium chloride solution. The polysaccharide was further fractionated into FCW-I and FCW-II by ion exchange chromatography. The FCW-I and FCW-II were then purified by gel permeation chromatography and named as FCW-Ia and FCW-IIa, respectively. FCW-IIa showed relatively strong immuno-stimulating activity but FCW-Ia did not. By analyses of HPLC and GPC, FCW-Ia and FCW-IIa were identified to be homogeneous and their molecular weights were estimated to be about 15,000 and 8,700, respectively. FCW-Ia consisted of fucose, galactose, and mannose as main sugars and their molar ratio was 19.5 : 63.2 : 25.0. Protein was not detected in FCW-Ia. However, FCW-IIa was composed of glucose, galactose, and mannose at a molar ratio of 1.0 : 0.3 : 0.4 and contained 0.4% protein with a higher amount of glutamic acid. A small amount of uronic acid was detected in both FCW-Ia and FCW-IIa.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 2017

Baicalein, a natural flavonoid obtained from the rhizome of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been reported to have anticancer activities in several human cancer cell lines. However, its antimetastatic effects and associated mechanisms in melanoma cells have not been extensively studied. The current study examined the effects of baicalein on cell motility and anti-invasive activity using mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. Within the noncytotoxic concentration range, baicalein significantly inhibited the cell motility and invasiveness of B16F10 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Baicalein also reduced the activity and expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9; however, the levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -2 were concomitantly increased. The inhibitory effects of baicalein on cell motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with its tightening of tight junction (TJ), which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance and downregulation of the claudin family of proteins. Additionally, treatment with baicalein markedly reduced the expression levels of lipopolysaccharide-induced phosphorylated Akt and the invasive activity in B16F10 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that baicalein inhibits B16F10 melanoma cell migration and invasion by reducing the expression of MMPs and tightening TJ through the suppression of claudin expression, possibly in association with a suppression of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.115-120
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• 2004

For the expression study of antioxidant isoenzyme genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants, extensive searches for genes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) isoforms were performed through the GenBank database. The genes for two cytosolic and one plastidic CuZn-SOD, one Fe-SOD, two Mn-SOD, two cytosolic and two chloroplastic (stromal and thylakoid) APX, and three CAT isoforms were available in japonica-type rice. These isoforms were named as cCuZn-SOD1, cCuZn-SOD2, pCuZn-SOD, Fe-SOD, Mn-SOD1, Mn-SOD2, cAPXa, cAPXb, Chl_sAPX, Chl_tAPX, CATa, CATb, and CATc, respectively. Since they shared a high degree of homology in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, the gene-specific primers for the genes were designed directly from their full-length cDNAs found in the database except for the CATa gene. These primers were used in the RT-PCR analysis to investigate the differential expression of antioxidant isoenzyme genes in rice plants from the seeds irradiated with low doses (2, 4, 8, and 16 Gy) of gamma-radiation. The gammairradiation slightly increased the transcripts of pCuZn-SOD, while those of Fe-SOD, cAPXb, and CATb decreased. However, no substantial differences were observed in the expression of all the isoenzyme genes between the control and irradiated groups. In this study, gene specific primers for thirteen SOD, APX and CAT isoenzymes were constructed from the full-length cDNAs. The results of RT-PCR analysis obtained by using these primers suggests that the expression levels of SOD, APX, and CAT isoenzyme genes in rice seedlings were hardly affected by gamma-irradiation at the seed stage.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2006

Epidemiological studies have indicated that the ubiquitous consumption of seaweeds is a protective factor against some types of cancer. Previous results showed that the administration of seaweed powder or extract reduced the incidence rate of chemically induced tumorigenesis using in vivo animal model. Recently, we reported that the extracts of Gloiopeltis furcata, a kind of Korean edible seaweed, caused he cell growth inhibition of various human cancer cell lines, among them methanol extract exhibited a relatively strong antiproliferative activity. However, the molecular mechanisms of this seaweed in malignant cells have been poorly studied until now. To elucidate this problem, we investigated the effects of methanol extract of G. furcata (MEGF) on the growth inhibition in several human cancer cell lines, and further we analyzed the effects of this extract were tested on the activity of apoptosis induction in human leukemic cells. The results demonstrated that MEGF treatment resulted in the morphological changes and the growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MEGF potently suppresses the growth of human leukemic U937 cells by induction of apoptosis, which was associated with induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1) in a tumor suppressor p53-independent fashion and up-regulation of Fas/FasL system. Further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anticancer activity of MEGF. Once such compounds are identified, the mechanisms by which they exert their effects can begin to be characterized.