• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 1989

Radioactive N-$\alpha$-p-nitrobenzoxycarbonyl (NBZ)-L-[2,$3-^{3}$H] arginyl diazomethane was used as an affinity label for the vacuolar arginine transporter in Neurospora crassa. Vacuolar matrix proteins were removed by fracturing the membranes with freeze-thaw method in dry ice/ethanol bath. Vacuolar membrane proteins were then wasged with 500mM NaCl to remove ionically bound derivatives and peripheral membrane proteins from vacuolar membranes. After dissolved in 1% Titon X-100, dissolved vacuolar memvrane proteins were separated with molecular sieve column chromatography, anion and cation exchange chromatographies. The arginine transporter was purified giving the purification factor of 1136.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.108-116
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• 1989

Based on the specificty of recognition of the vacuolar arginine transporter, N-p-nitrobenzoxycarbonyl (NBZ)-L-arginyl diazomethane was synthesized and used as an affinity label specific for the arginine transporter. This arginyl derivative ingibited both ATP-dependent and independent L-arginine transport into vacuolar membrane vesicles. When vacuolar proteins were labeled with radioactive NBZ arginyl diazomethane, the binding was irreversible, detached by treatment with base and blocked by treatment with cysteinyl blocking groups suggesting cysteine as a labeling site.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 1996

To find the substrate interacting site of the MCAT1, charged amino acid residues in the transmembrane domain were changed to opposite charged amino acids and studied the arginine uptake, gp70 binding, efflux and protein expression using the Xenopus oocyte expression method. Among the five mutants of MCAT1, the D403K showed the most interesting characteristics, which had normal gp70 binding but low arginine uptake function, that means the normal expression on the membrane but decreased transport function. All mutants except K211E showed decreased arginine efflux, and kinetic study showed decreased Vmax. Together, Clu(403) residue of MCAT1 may show the possible substrate interacting site in the transmembrane domain of MCAT1.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 2010

A total of 16 crossbred post-weaning pigs (10.64${\pm}$0.27 kg BW) were individually penned and assigned to one of two treatments to investigate the influences of diquat-induced oxidative stress on performance and arginine metabolism. Pigs in the oxidative stress group were injected intra-peritoneally with 10 mg/kg BW of diquat, while the control group were injected with isotonic saline. All pigs were fed ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 7 days. The results indicated that compared with control treatment, oxidative stress induced by diquat significantly decreased average daily gain, intake and feed conversion. The treatment decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes, increased concentration of malondialdehyde in plasma, increased cationic amino acid transporter-1 mRNA level and activity of ornithine aminotransferase and concentrations of arginine and citrulline in the jejunum, decreased the concentrations of arginine in plasma and kidney, and decreased induced nitric oxide synthase mRNA level. It is concluded that oxidative stress induced by diquat can influence absorption and metabolism of arginine and consequently modify the requirement of arginine for post-weaning pigs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.428-438
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• 2023

Clonorchis sinensis is commonly found in East Asian countries. Clonorchiasis is prevalent in these countries and can lead to various clinical symptoms. In this study, we used overlap extension polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system to isolate a cDNA encoding the choline transporter of C. sinensis (CsChT). We subsequently characterized recombinant CsChT. Expression of CsChT in X. laevis oocytes enabled efficient transport of radiolabeled choline, with no detectable uptake of arginine, α-ketoglutarate, p-aminohippurate, taurocholate, and estrone sulfate. Influx and efflux experiments showed that CsChT-mediated choline uptake was time- and sodium-dependent, with no exchange properties. Concentration-dependent analyses of revealed saturable kinetics consistent with the Michaelis-Menten equation, while nonlinear regression analyses revealed a Km value of 8.3 µM and a Vmax of 61.0 pmol/oocyte/h. These findings contribute to widen our understanding of CsChT transport properties and the cascade of choline metabolisms within C. sinensis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 1999

Taurine is a major $\beta$-amino acid in various tissues. Taurine transporter (TAUT) is responsible for the transportation of taurine in the cell. The transporter is affected by various stimuli to maintain its cell volume. Macrophage cell volume varies in its activated states. In our experiment, it was found that the murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, expressed TAUT protein in its membrane. Its transportation activities could be blocked by a $\beta$-amino acid such as $\beta$-alanine, but not by $\alpha$-amino acids in this cell line. When assessed in RAW264.7 under the influence of immunosuppressive reagents, the activity of the TAUT was decreased by the treatment of rapamycin (RM) or cyclosporin A (CsA). However when ionomycin (IM) was added to this system, TAUT activity was recovered only in CsA-treated cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In order to inhibit the voltage gated {TEX}$Ca^{+2}${/TEX} channel, calmidazolium was added to the RAW264.7 cell line. Treatment of the cell with calmidazolium completely blocked TAUT. Furthermore, addition of IM to this system recovered the activity of TAUT again. When we added phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to the cell line, secretion of nitric oxide (NO) was increased 4-fold and the TAUT activity was decreased 5-fold. However, the addition of N-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, to the PMA-treated cells, resulted in the recovery of TAUT activity. These results showed that the activity of TAUT was sensitive to the intracellular concentrations of both {TEX}$Ca^{+2}${/TEX} and NO.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.145-148
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• 2003

Previously, we reported that L-PCA enhanced blood circulation by modulating constitutive NO production. It was that L-PCA increased L-Arg uptake into endothelial cell, followed by the enhancement of NO production. Then we recommended the use of L-PCA for cosmetics, not only as humectants but also as enhancer of blood circulation. Since L-Arg is transported into endothelial cells by CAT (cationic amino acid transporter), it is expected that L-PCA also increase the uptake of basic amino acid, L-Lys. In this study, the uptakes of some amino acids into cells were evaluated by using 3H-labelled amino acid. Then we found the tendency that the uptake of L-Lys into endothelial cells was also enhanced by L-PCA. And the evident effect was observed in the epidermal fibroblasts, which had also CAT. Furthermore, it was found that the transportation of the other type of amino acids were not enhanced by L-PCA. That is to say, a famous moisturizer, L-PCA, has some effects on basic amino acid transport into cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.154-161
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• 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disorder that causes progressive paralysis. L-Citrulline is a nonessential neutral amino acid produced by L-arginine via nitric oxide synthase (NOS). According to previous studies, the pathogenesis of ALS entails glutamate toxicity, oxidative stress, protein misfolding, and neurofilament disruption. In addition, L-citrulline prevents neuronal cell death in brain ischemia; therefore, we investigated the change in the transport of L-citrulline under various pathological conditions in a cell line model of ALS. We examined the uptake of [¹⁴C]L-citrulline in wild-type (hSOD1wt/WT) and mutant NSC-34/ SOD1^G93A (MT) cell lines. The cell viability was determined via MTT assay. A transport study was performed to determine the uptake of [¹⁴C]L-citrulline. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to determine the expression levels of rat large neutral amino acid transported 1 (rLAT1) in ALS cell lines. Nitric oxide (NO) assay was performed using Griess reagent. L-Citrulline had a restorative effect on glutamate induced cell death, and increased [¹⁴C]L-citrulline uptake and mRNA levels of the large neutral amino acid transporter (LAT1) in the glutamate-treated ALS disease model (MT). NO levels increased significantly when MT cells were pretreated with glutamate for 24 h and restored by co-treatment with L-citrulline. Co-treatment of MT cells with L-arginine, an NO donor, increased NO levels. NSC-34 cells exposed to high glucose conditions showed a significant increase in [¹⁴C]L-citrulline uptake and LAT1 mRNA expression levels, which were restored to normal levels upon co-treatment with unlabeled L-citrulline. In contrast, exposure of the MT cell line to tumor necrosis factor alpha, lipopolysaccharides, and hypertonic condition decreased the uptake significantly which was restored to the normal level by co-treating with unlabeled L-citrulline. L-Citrulline can restore NO levels and cellular uptake in ALS-affected cells with glutamate cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, or other pathological states, suggesting that L-citrulline supplementation in ALS may play a key role in providing neuroprotection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.291-301
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• 2023

Introduction: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Currently, no anti-NSCLC/COVID-19 treatment options are available. As ginsenoside Rg3 is beneficial to NSCLC patients and has been identified as an entry inhibitor of the virus, this study aims to explore underlying pharmacological mechanisms of ginsenoside Rg3 for the treatment of NSCLC patients with COVID-19. Methods: Based on a large-scale data mining and systemic biological analysis, this study investigated target genes, biological processes, pharmacological mechanisms, and underlying immune implications of ginsenoside Rg3 for NSCLC patients with COVID-19. Results: An important gene set containing 26 target genes was built. Target genes with significant prognostic value were identified, including baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5 (BIRC5), carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9), endothelin receptor type B (EDNRB), glucagon receptor (GCGR), interleukin 2 (IL2), peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PADI4), and solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1). The expression of target genes was significantly correlated with the infiltration level of macrophages, eosinophils, natural killer cells, and T lymphocytes. Ginsenoside Rg3 may benefit NSCLC patients with COVID-19 by regulating signaling pathways primarily involved in anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, cell cycle, cell fate, carcinogenesis, and hemodynamics. Conclusions: This study provided a comprehensive strategy for drug discovery in NSCLC and COVID-19 based on systemic biology approaches. Ginsenoside Rg3 may be a prospective drug for NSCLC patients with COVID-19. Future studies are needed to determine the value of ginsenoside Rg3 for NSCLC patients with COVID-19.