• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.315-326
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• 2021

Ion channels are membrane protein complexes mediating passive ion flux across the cell membranes. Every organism has a certain set of ion channels that define its physiology. Dinoflagellates are ecologically important microorganisms characterized by effective physiological adaptability, which backs up their massive proliferations that often result in harmful blooms (red tides). In this study, we used a bioinformatics approach to identify homologs of known ion channels that belong to 36 ion channel families. We demonstrated that the versatility of the dinoflagellate physiology is underpinned by a high diversity of ion channels including homologs of animal and plant proteins, as well as channels unique to protists. The analysis of 27 transcriptomes allowed reconstructing a consensus ion channel repertoire (channelome) of dinoflagellates including the members of 31 ion channel families: inwardly-rectifying potassium channels, two-pore domain potassium channels, voltage-gated potassium channels (K_v), tandem K_v, cyclic nucleotide-binding domain-containing channels (CNBD), tandem CNBD, eukaryotic ionotropic glutamate receptors, large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, intermediate/small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, eukaryotic single-domain voltage-gated cation channels, transient receptor potential channels, two-pore domain calcium channels, four-domain voltage-gated cation channels, cation and anion Cys-loop receptors, small-conductivity mechanosensitive channels, large-conductivity mechanosensitive channels, voltage-gated proton channels, inositole-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, slow anion channels, aluminum-activated malate transporters and quick anion channels, mitochondrial calcium uniporters, voltage-dependent anion channels, vesicular chloride channels, ionotropic purinergic receptors, animal volage-insensitive cation channels, channelrhodopsins, bestrophins, voltage-gated chloride channels H⁺/Cl^- exchangers, plant calcium-permeable mechanosensitive channels, and trimeric intracellular cation channels. Overall, dinoflagellates represent cells able to respond to physical and chemical stimuli utilizing a wide range of G-protein coupled receptors- and Ca²⁺-dependent signaling pathways. The applied approach not only shed light on the ion channel set in dinoflagellates, but also provided the information on possible molecular mechanisms underlying vital cellular processes dependent on the ion transport.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.103-104
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• 1991

The ionophore activity of frangufoline (1), a sedative cyclopeptide alkaloid isolated from Zizyphus jujuba, was investigated by UV and CD spectroscopic methods. Frangufoline (1) showed ion binding activity to calcium and magnesium ions.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.233.2-234
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.57.1-57.1
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• 2007

See Full Text

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.11-12
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• 1997

A concept that extracellular ATP plays a role as a neurotransmitter is now widely accepted. ATP released from nerve terminals transmits both excitatory and inhibitory signals to postsynaptic neurons, muscle cells, and non-excitable cells. ATP-activated channels are effectors that convert the binding of ATP into the opening of ion channel pores in postsynaptic membrane.(omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.8
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• pp.287-291
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• 2019

Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a calcium- and zinc-binding protein of the S100 family, mainly expressed by neutrophils and released during inflammation. FC became an increasingly useful tool both for gastroenterologists and for general practitioners for distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from irritable bowel syndrome. Increasing evidences support the use of this biomarker for diagnosis, follow-up and evaluation of response to therapy of several pediatric gastrointestinal diseases, ranging from IBD to nonspecific colitis and necrotizing enterocolitis. This article summarizes the current literature on the use of FC in clinical practice.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the Korean Safflower (Carthamus inctorius L) seed powder on serum level of hormones and trabecula area during the recovery from osteoporosis induced ovariectomized rats. Four month-old rats were ovariectomized (OVX), remained untreated for 8 weeks, and were subsequently administered safflower seed (0.03 g/kg) every other day 30 for days. We examined the effects of treated safflower seed every 10 days on ovariectomy-related changes in Insulin-like Growth Factors, Insulin-like Growth Factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), Estrogen, Bone-specific alkaline phosphotase, Calcium, and Phospotase in the serum, and also histomorphology of the proximal fibula metaphysis and femur/body weight rate. Ten and 20 days after safflower seed treatment in OVX rats, serum levels of IGF-I, -II and IGFBP-3 were not different from the Sham and OVX groups. In 30 days, serum levels of IGF-I,-II and IGFBP-3 were higher after safflower seed treatment in OVX rats as compared to the other two groups (p<0.05). Bone alkaline phosphatase levels were increased through safflower seed treatment in OVX rats compared to the other two groups in 30 days. There were no differences between OVX and safflower seed treated OVX rats in serum levels of estrogen and femur/body weight rate, but estrogen levels for the sham group were higher than for the other two groups. The safflower seed is increased to serum levels of IGFs, IGFBP-3 and BALP of osteoporosis induced by ovariectomized rats. Thus, we conclude that the safflower seed is a possible role for improvement of osteoporosis induced-ovariectomized rats.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2006

This study was conducted to examine whether the parthenogenetic mouse embryonic stem (P-mES) cells can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes in vitro similar to (mES) cells. p-mES04 and IVF-derived mES03 cells were cultured by suspension culture for 4 days. The formed embryoid bodies (EBs) were treated with 0.75% dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) for further 4 days (4-/4+), and then plated onto gelatin coated culture dish. The appearance of contracting cardiomyocytes from the P-mES04 and mES03 cells was examined for 30 days. The highest cumulative frequency was detected at days 13 (69.83%) and 22 (61.3%), respectively. By immunocytochemistry, beating P-mES04 cells were positively stained with muscle specific anti-sarcomeric a-actinin Ab and cardiac specific anti-cardiac troponin I Ab similar to contracted mES03 cells. When the expression of cardiac muscle-specific genes was analyzed by RT-PCR, beating P-mES04 cells were expressed cardiac specific L-type calcium channel, a1C, cardiac myosin heavy chain a, cardiac muscle heavy polypeptide $7{\beta}$, GATA binding protein 4 and atrial natriuretic factor, but not expressed skeletal muscle specific L-type calcium channel, a1S, which was similar to male adult heart cells and mES03-derived beating cardiomyocytes. The result demonstrates that the P-mES cells can be used as an alternative for the study on the characteristic analysis of in vitro cardiomyocyte differentiation from the ES cells.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.172-181
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• 1999

To develop the manufacturing technique for the powder builder of amorphous solid types, the water glass mixed with caustic soda dispersed into the methanol. Thus soluble sodium silicate was made a form of amorphous solid powder. In order to examine characteristics of water soluble sodium silicate $SiO_2/Na_2O$ mol ratio, we investigated solubility, thermogram, SEM, and BET analysis. pH buffering capacity, calcium-ion binding capacity as temperature change, and surfactant loading capacity were examined for characteristics as laundry detergent builder. $SiO_2/Na_2O$ molar ratio of soluble sodium silicate was 1.0, 2.4, 2.8, and zeolite was used in order to investigate basic characteristics of laundry detergent builder. Silicate used with laundry detergent was good for pH buffering capacity and solubility. But calcium-ion binding capacity and surfactant adsorption ability were lower. $SiO_2/Na_2O$ mol ratio became higher, pH buffering capacity and ion exchange ability were lower and surfactant adsorption ability was a little higher.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.30-43
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• 2011

Purpose: Under different culture conditions, periodontal ligament (PDL) stem cells are capable of differentiating into cementoblast-like cells, adipocytes, and collagen-forming cells. Several previous studies reported that because of the stem cells in the PDL, the PDL have a regenerative capacity which, when appropriately triggered, participates in restoring connective tissues and mineralized tissues. Therefore, this study analyzed the genes involved in mineralization during differentiation of human PDL (hPDL) cells, and searched for candidate genes possibly associated with the mineralization of hPDL cells. Methods: To analyze the gene expression pattern of hPDL cells during differentiation, the hPDL cells were cultured in two conditions, with or without osteogenic cocktails (${\beta}$-glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid and dexamethasone), and a DNA microarray analysis of the cells cultured on days 7 and 14 was performed. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate the DNA microarray data. Results: The up-regulated genes on day 7 by hPDL cells cultured in osteogenic medium were thought to be associated with calcium/iron/metal ion binding or homeostasis (PDE1A, HFE and PCDH9) and cell viability (PCDH9), and the down-regulated genes were thought to be associated with proliferation (PHGDH and PSAT1). Also, the up-regulated genes on day 14 by hPDL cells cultured in osteogenic medium were thought to be associated with apoptosis, angiogenesis (ANGPTL4 and FOXO1A), and adipogenesis (ANGPTL4 and SEC14L2), and the down-regulated genes were thought to be associated with cell migration (SLC16A4). Conclusions: This study suggests that when appropriately triggered, the stem cells in the hPDL differentiate into osteoblasts/cementoblasts, and the genes related to calcium binding (PDE1A and PCDH9), which were strongly expressed at the stage of matrix maturation, may be associated with differentiation of the hPDL cells into osteoblasts/cementoblasts.