• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1245-1252
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• 2004

Although ascorbate (vitamin C) has been shown to have anti-cancer actions, its effect on human hepatoma cells has not yet been investigated, and thus, the exact mechanism of this action is not fully understood. In this study, the mechanism by which ascorbate induces apoptosis using HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells is investigated. Ascorbate induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner in the cells, was assessed through flow cytometric analysis. Contrary to expectation, ascorbate did not alter the cellular redox status, and treatment with antioxidants (N-acetyl cysteine and N,N-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine) had no influence on the ascorbate-induced apoptosis. However, ascorbate induced a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. EGTA, an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator did not significantly alter the ascorbate-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase and apoptosis, whereas dantrolene, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker, completely blocked these actions of ascorbate. In addition, phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors (U-73122 and manoalide) significantly suppressed the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release and apoptosis induced by ascorbate. Collectively, these results suggest that ascorbate induced apoptosis without changes in the cellular redox status in HepG2 cells, and that the PLC-coupled intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mechanism may mediate ascorbate-induced apoptosis.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.173-174
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• 2002

Oxidative modification of cellular structures and functions by redox imbalance is the basis of the current oxidative stress hypothesis of aging. The experimental support for this hypothsis has been generated from recent molecular probing on the interrelation between the age-related functional impairments and the pathogenesis. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.238.2-239
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.391-392
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• 2017

Overexpression of mammalian 2-Cys peroxiredoxin (Prx) enzymes is observed in most cancer tissues. Nevertheless, their specific roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression has yet to be fully elucidated. Here, a novel molecular mechanism by which PrxII/Tankyrase (TNKS) interaction mediates survival of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)-mutant CRC cells was explored. In mice with an inactivating APC mutation, a model of spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis, deletion of PrxII reduced intestinal adenomatous polyposis and thereby increased survival. In APC-mutant human CRC cells, PrxII depletion hindered PARP-dependent Axin1 degradation through TNKS inactivation. $H_2O_2-sensitive$ Cys residues in the zinc-binding domain of TNKS1 was found to be crucial for PARsylation activity. Mechanistically, direct binding of PrxII to ARC4/5 domains of TNKS conferred vital redox protection against oxidative inactivation. As a proof-of-concept experiment, a chemical compound targeting PrxII inhibited the growth of tumors xenografted with APC-mutation-positive CRC cells. Collectively, the results provide evidence revealing a novel redox mechanism for regulating TNKS activity such that physical interaction between PrxII and TNKS promoted survival of APC-mutant colorectal cancer cells by PrxII-dependent antioxidant shielding.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.281-284
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• 2005

The Fe/MgO catalysts with different Fe loadings (1, 4, 6, 15 and 30 wt% Fe) were prepared by a wet impregnation with iron nitrate as precursor. All of the catalysts were characterized by BET surface analyzer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The maximum removal capacity of $H_2S$ was obtained with 15 wt% Fe/MgO catalyst which had the highest BET surface area among the measured catalysts. XRD of Fe/MgO catalysts showed that well dispersed Fe particles could be present on Fe/MgO with Fe loadings below 15 wt%. The crystallites of bulk $\alpha$-$Fe_2O_3$ became evident on 30 wt% Fe/MgO, which were confirmed by XRD. TPR profiles showed that the reducibility of Fe/MgO was strongly related to the loaded amounts of Fe on MgO support. Therefore, the highest removal efficiency of $H_2S$ in wet oxidation could be ascribed to a good dispersion and high reducibility of Fe/MgO catalyst. XPS studies indicated that the $H_2S$ oxidation with Fe/MgO could proceed via the redox mechanism ($Fe^{3+}\;{\leftrightarrow}\;Fe^{2+}$).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 1985

Rusty root of ginseng has been known as one of the limiting factors in ginseng production in Korea. An attempt was, therefore, made to elucidate biological and chemical natures of the rusty root, and the redox Potential of the ginseng cultivated soils were measured and compared with diseased and non-diseased soils. Reddish discoloration was most frequently observed on the epidermis of ginseng root and the pigments were accumulated in all epidermal cells of the diseased lesions. The lower the redox potential of the ginseng cultivated soil was, the more severe the rusty root was observed. Fe content in the diseased epidermis was 3 times higher than that of healthy one. Organic acids such as oxalic, malonic, succinic, and citric acids were also higher in the mss root than in the healthy one. Thin layer chromatogram of phenolic acid fractions obtained from the epidermal cells of the rusty root of ginseng exhibited 3 to 4 unidentified substances not found in the healthy root. Also lignification of the epidermal cells and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase were greater in the rusty root than the healthy root. Colony formation and conidia production of F. solani, And mycelial growth and sclerotium formation of Sclerotinia sp. isolated from ginseng root were suppressed in a nutritionally minimal medium supplemented with water extract of rusty ginseng root epidermis. It is, therefore, suggested that rusty root of ginseng is caused by unfavorable rhizosphere environmental stress or stresses resulting abnormal metabolism in the root as a selfdefence mechanism of non-specific resistance responses.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.149-153
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• 2001

The electron transfer reaction is one of the most essential processes of life. Not only does it provide the means of transforming solar and chemical energy into a utilizable form for all living organisms, it also extends into a range of metabolic processes that support the life of a cell. Thus, it is of great interest to understand the physical basis of the rates and reduction potentials of these reactions. To identify the major determinants of reduction potentials in redox proteins, we have chosen the simplest electron transfer protein, rubredoxin, a small (52-54 residue) iron-sulfur protein family, widely distributed in bacteria and archaea. Rubredoxins can be grouped into two classes based on the correlation of their reduction potentials with the identity of residue 44; those with Ala44 (ex: Pyrococcus furiosus) have reduction potentials that are ∼50 mV higher than those with Va144 (ex: Clostridium pasteurianum). Based on the crystal structures of rubredoxins from C. pasteurianum and P. furiosus, we propose the identity of residue 44 alone determines the reduction potential by the orientation of the electric dipole moment of the peptide bond between 43 and 44. Based on 1.5 $\AA$ resolution crystal structures and molecular dynamics simulations of oxidized and reduced rubredoxins from C. pasteurianum, the structural rearrangements upon reduction suggest specific mechanisms by which electron transfer reactions of rubredoxin should be facilitated.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.332-346
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• 2008

S-glutathionylation is a reversible post-translational modification that continues to gain eminence as a redox regulatory mechanism of protein activity and associated cellular functions. Many diverse cellular proteins such as transcription factors, adhesion molecules, enzymes, and cytokines are reported to undergo glutathionylation, although the functional impact has been less well characterized. De-glutathionylation is catalyzed specifically and efficiently by glutaredoxin (GRx, aka thioltransferase), and facile reversibility is critical in determining the physiological relevance of glutathionylation as a means of protein regulation. Thus, studies with cohesive themes addressing both the glutathionylation of proteins and the corresponding impact of GRx are especially useful in advancing understanding. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and redox regulation are well accepted as playing a role in inflammatory processes, such as leukostasis and the destruction of foreign particles by macrophages. We discuss in this review the current implications of GRx and/or glutathionylation in the inflammatory response and in diseases associated with chronic inflammation, namely diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammatory lung disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease, and in viral infections.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-337
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• 2008

Src-family kinases are critically involved in the control of cytoskeleton organization and in the generation of integrin-dependent signaling responses, inducing tyrosine phosphorylation of many signaling and cytoskeletal proteins. Activity of the Src family of tyrosine kinases is tightly controlled by inhibitory phosphorylation of a carboxy-terminal tyrosine residue, inducing an inactive conformation through binding with its SH2 domain. Dephosphorylation of C-ter tyrosine, as well as its deletion of substitution with phenylalanine in oncogenic Src kinases, leads to autophosphorylation at a tyrosine in the activation loop, thereby leading to enhanced Src activity. Beside this phophorylation/dephosphorylation circuitry, cysteine oxidation has been recently reported as a further mechanism of enzyme activation. Mounting evidence describes Src activation via its redox regulation as a key outcome in several circumstances, including growth factor and cytokines signaling, integrin-mediated cell adhesion and motility, membrane receptor cross-talk as well in cell transformation and tumor progression. Among the plethora of data involving Src kinase in physiological and pathophysiological processes, this review will give emphasis to the redox component of the regulation of this master kinase.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2006

The redox characteristics of 2-ketohydrazono-3-phenyl-5-substituted-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles and its derivatives (1a-h) has been investigated in nonaqueous solvents such as 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), dichloromethane (DCM), acetonitrile (AN), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) containing 0.1 mol.dm-3 tetra n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) as supporting electrolyte at platinum ectrode. Through controlled potential electrolysis, the oxidation and reduction products of the investigated compounds can be separated and indentified. The redox mechanism is suggested and proved. It was found that all the investigated compounds are oxidized in two irreversible one-electron processes following the well known pattern of EC-mechanism. On the other hand, these compounds are reduced in a single two electron or in a successive two one electron processes following the well known pattern of EEC-mechanism according to the nature of the substituent