• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2010

Porous mullite/alumina composites have been fabricated by a freeze casting technique using TBA-based coal fly ash/alumina slurry. After sintering, unidirectional macropore channels aligned regularly along the TBA ice growth direction were developed; simultaneously, small sized micropores fromed in the outer walls of the pore channels. The physical and mechanical properties (e.g. porosity and compressive strength) of the sintered porous composites were roughly dependant of processing conditions, due to the complexity of the factors affecting them. However, with increasing solid loading and sintering temperature, the compressive strength generally increased and the porosity decreased. After sintering $1500^{\circ}C$ for 2 h, the porous specimen (porosity: 52.1%) showed a maximum compressive strength of 70.0 MPa.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.25-25
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• 1997

Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGC's) contain a putative N-glycosylation site (Asn-X-Ser/Thr) in the linker regions connecting the fourth transmembrane domain (S4) and the ion conduction pore (P-region). This putative N-glycosylation site is highly conserved and thus found in many different CNGC in various organisms, from fruit to human.(omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2005

Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) causes oxidative stress and is considered as an inducer of cell death in various tissues. Two-pore domain $K^+$ ($K_{2p}$) channels may mediate $K^+$ efflux during apoptotic volume decreases (AVD) in zygotes and in mouse embryos. In the present study, we sought to elucidate linkage between $K_{2p}$ channels and cell death by $H_2O_2$. Thus $K_{2p}$ channels (TASK-1, TASK-3, TREK-1, TREK-2) were stably transfected in HEK-293 cells, and cytotoxicity assay was preformed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell survival rates were calculated using the cytotoxicity assay data and dose-response curve was fitted to the $H_2O_2$ concentration. Ionic currents were recorded in cell-attached mode. The bath solution was the normal Ringer solution and the pipette solution was high $K^+$ solution. In HEK-293 cells expressing TREK-1, TREK-2, TASK-3, $H_2O_2$ induced cell death did not change in comparison to non-transfected HEK-293. In HEK-293 cells expressing TASK-1, however, dose-response curve was significantly shifted to the left. It means that $H_2O_2$ induced cell death was increased. In cell attached-mode recording, application of $H_2O_2$ (300μM) increased activity of all $K_{2p}$ channels. However, a low concentration of $H_2O_2$ ($50{\mu}M$) increased only TASK-1 channel activity. These results indicate that TASK-1 might participate in $K^+$ efflux by $H_2O_2$ at low concentration, thereby inducing AVD.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.4.1-4.13
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• 2018

Two-pore domain $K^+$ (K2P) channels have been shown to modulate neuronal excitability. The physiological role of TWIK-1, the first identified K2P channel, in neuronal cells is largely unknown, and we reported previously that TWIK-1 contributes to the intrinsic excitability of dentate gyrus granule cells (DGGCs) in mice. In the present study, we investigated the coexpression of TWIK-1 and TASK-3, another K2P member, in DGGCs. Immunohistochemical staining data showed that TASK-3 proteins were highly localized in the proximal dendrites and soma of DGGCs, and this localization is similar to the expression pattern of TWIK-1. TWIK-1 was shown to associate with TASK-3 in DGGCs of mouse hippocampus and when both genes were overexpressed in COS-7 cells. shRNA-mediated gene silencing demonstrated that TWIK-1/TASK-3 heterodimeric channels displayed outwardly rectifying currents and contributed to the intrinsic excitability of DGGCs. Neurotensin-neurotensin receptor 1 (NT-NTSR1) signaling triggered the depolarization of DGGCs by inhibiting TWIK-1/TASK-3 heterodimeric channels, causing facilitated excitation of DGGCs. Taken together, our study clearly showed that TWIK-1/TASK-3 heterodimeric channels contribute to the intrinsic excitability of DGGCs and that their activities are regulated by NT-NTSR1 signaling.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.311-316
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• 2021

Ethanol often causes critical health problems by altering the neuronal activities of the central and peripheral nerve systems. One of the cellular targets of ethanol is the plasma membrane proteins including ion channels and receptors. Recently, we reported that ethanol elevates membrane excitability in sympathetic neurons by inhibiting Kv7.2/7.3 channels in a cell type-specific manner. Even though our studies revealed that the inhibitory effects of ethanol on the Kv7.2/7.3 channel was diminished by the increase of plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P₂), the molecular mechanism of ethanol on Kv7.2/7.3 channel inhibition remains unclear. By investigating the kinetics of Kv7.2/7.3 current in high K⁺ solution, we found that ethanol inhibited Kv7.2/7.3 channels through a mechanism distinct from that of tetraethylammonium (TEA) which enters into the pore and blocks the gate of the channels. Using a non-stationary noise analysis (NSNA), we demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of ethanol is the result of reduction of open probability (P_O) of the Kv7.2/7.3 channel, but not of a single channel current (i) or channel number (N). Finally, ethanol selectively facilitated the kinetics of Kv7.2 current suppression by voltage-sensing phosphatase (VSP)-induced PI(4,5)P₂ depletion, while it slowed down Kv7.2 current recovery from the VSP-induced inhibition. Together our results suggest that ethanol regulates neuronal activity through the reduction of open probability and PI(4,5)P₂ sensitivity of Kv7.2/7.3 channels.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 2006

Liquid phase alkylation of biphenyl (BP) was studied over large pore zeolites. Selective formation of the least bulky products, 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl (4,4'-DIPB) occurred only in the isopropylation of BP over some large pore molecular sieves. H-mordenites (MOR) gave the highest selectivity among them. The dealumination of MOR enhanced catalytic activity and the selectivity of 4,4'-DIPB because of the decrease of coke-deposition. Non-selective catalysis occurs on external acid sites over MOR with the low $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ ratio because severe coke-deposition deactivates the acid sites inside the pores by blocking pore openings. The selectivity of DIPB isomers was changed with reaction temperature. Selective formation of 4,4'-DIPB was observed at moderate temperatures such as $250^{\circ}C$, whereas the decrease of the selectivity of 4,4'-DIPB occurred at higher temperatures as $300^{\circ}C$. However, 4,4'-DIPB was almost exclusive isomer in the encapsulated DIPB isomers inside the pores even at high temperatures. These decreases of the selectivity of 4,4'-DIPB are due to the isomerization of 4,4'-DIPB on the external acid sites. Some 12-membered molecular sieves, such as SSZ-24, MAPO-5 (M:Mg, Zn, Si), SSZ-31, and ZSM-12, which have straight channels, gave 4,4'-DIPB with moderate to high selectivity; however; SSZ-55, SSZ-42, and MAPO-36 (M: Mg, Zn) gave lower selectivity because of cages in 12-membered one dimensional channels. Three dimensional H-Y and Beta zeolites also yield 4,4'-DIPB in low yield because of their wide circumstances for the isopropylation of BP. The increasing the size of alkylating agent enhanced the shape-selective alkylaiton even for the zeolites, such as UTD-1. The ethylation of BP to ethylbiphenyls (EBPs) and diethylbiphenyls (DEBPs) over MOR was non-selective. The ethylation of BP to EBPs was controlled kinetically. However, there was difference in reactivity of EBPs and DEBPs for their further ethylation. 4-EBP was ethylated preferentially among the isomers, although the formation of 4,4'-DEBP was less selective. The least bulky 4-EBP and 4,4'-DEBP have the highest reactivity among EBPs and DEBPs for the ethylation to polyethylbiphenyls (PEBPs). These results show that the environments of MOR pores are too loose for shape selective formation of the least bulky isomers, 4-EBP and 4,4'-DEBP in the ethylation of BP, and that MOR pores have enough space for the further ethylation of 4,4'-DEBP.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 2019

The transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 5 channel, known as a nonselective cation channel, has a crucial role in calcium influx. TRPC5 has been reported to be activated by muscarinic receptor activation and extracellular pH change and inhibited by the protein kinase C pathway. Recent studies have also suggested that TRPC5 is extracellularly activated by englerin A (EA), but the mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify the EA-interaction sites in TRPC5 and thereby clarify the mechanism of TRPC5 activation. TRPC5 channels are over-expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. TRPC5 mutants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. The whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record TRPC5 currents. Western analysis was also performed to observe the expression of TRPC5 mutants. To identify the EA-interaction site in TRPC5, we first generated pore mutants. When screening the mutants with EA, we observed the EA-induced current increases of TRPC5 abolished in K554N, H594N, and E598Q mutants. The current increases of other mutants were reduced in different levels. We also examined the functional intactness of the mutants that had no effect by EA with TRPC5 agonists, such as carbachol or $GTP{\gamma}S$. Our results suggest that the three residues, Lys-554, His-594, and Glu-598, in TRPC5 might be responsible for direct interaction with EA, inducing the channel activation. We also suggest that although other pore residues are not critical, they could partly contribute to the EA-induced channel activation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.127-135
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• 2016

Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels are the targets of physiological stimuli, such as intracellular pH, bioactive lipids, and neurotransmitters, and they set the resting membrane potential. Some types of K2P channels play a critical role in both apoptosis and tumoriogenesis. Among the K2P channels, no antagonists of the TREK2 channel have been reported. The aim of the present study was to determine if the TREK2 channel is blocked and whether cell proliferation is influenced by flavonoids in the TREK2 overexpressing HEK293 cells (HEKT2). The electrophysiological current was recorded using single channel patch clamp techniques and cell proliferation was measured using a XTT assay. The electrophysiological results showed that the TREK2 channel activity was reduced to $91.5{\pm}13.1%$ (n=5) and $82.2{\pm}13.7%$ (n=5) by flavonoids, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and quercetin in HEKT2 cells, respectively. In contrast, the EGCG analogue, epicatechin (EC), had no significant inhibitory effects on the TREK2 single channel activity. In addition, cell proliferation was reduced to $69.4{\pm}14.0%$ (n=4) by ECGG in the HEKT2 cells. From these results, EGCG and quercetin represent the first known TREK2 channel inhibitors and only EGCG reduced HEKT2 cell proliferation. This suggests that the flavonoids may work primarily by inhibiting the TREK2 channel, leading to a change in the resting membrane potential, and triggering the initiation of a change in intracellular signaling for cell proliferation. TREK2 channel may, at least in part, contribute to cell proliferation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.379-385
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• 2016

TWIK-related $K^+$ channel-2 (TREK-2) and TWIK-related spinal cord $K^+$ (TRESK) channel are members of two-pore domain $K^+$ channel family. They are well expressed and help to set the resting membrane potential in sensory neurons. Modulation of TREK-2 and TRESK channels are involved in the pathogenesis of pain, and specific activators of TREK-2 and TRESK may be beneficial for the treatment of pain symptoms. However, the effect of commonly used analgesics on TREK-2 and TRESK channels are not known. Here, we investigated the effect of analgesics on TREK-2 and TRESK channels. The effects of analgesics were examined in HEK cells transfected with TREK-2 or TRESK. Amitriptyline, citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine significantly inhibited TREK-2 and TRESK currents in HEK cells (p<0.05, n=10). Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, nabumetone, and bupropion inhibited TRESK, but had no effect on TREK-2. These results show that all analgesics tested in this study inhibit TRESK activity. Further study is needed to identify the mechanisms by which the analgesics modulate TREK-2 and TRESK differently.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.235-242
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• 2017

In order to prepare porous scaffolds capable of pore control, PMMA powder serving as a pore-forming agent was added to HA powder to synthesize a slurry containing TBA as a solvent. And then, porous HA scaffolds where pillarshaped pore channels interconnected with each other were fabricated by freeze-casting and sintering. The crystal structure of the HA scaffolds according to the addition amount of PMMA powder was measured by XRD and the surface and inner cross section of the scaffolds were analyzed through SEM. It was found that removal of PMMA during sintering affects the internal structure of the scaffolds and the crystallinity of the HA powder. Furthermore, through evaluating the physical and mechanical properties of the scaffolds, it was confirmed that the porosity, pore size and compressive strength can be controlled by controlling the addition amount of the pore-forming agent. It was also found that the HA scaffolds produced in this study were similar in structure and properties to the natural cancellous bone. This suggests that porous HA scaffolds with PMMA can be used as an alternative to autogenous bone for tissue engineering as an artificial bone scaffold.