• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.617-623
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• 2017

The vascular actions and mechanisms of taurine were investigated in the isolated human radial artery (RA). RA rings were suspended in isolated organ baths and tension was recorded isometrically. First, a precontraction was achieved by adding potassium chloride (KCl, 45 mM) or serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, $30{\mu}M$) to organ baths. When the precontractions were stable, taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) was added cumulatively. Antagonistic effect of taurine on calcium chloride ($10{\mu}M$ to 10 mM) -induced contractions was investigated. Taurine-induced relaxations were also tested in the presence of the $K^+$ channel inhibitors tetraethylammonium (1 mM), glibenclamide ($10{\mu}M$) and 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). Taurine did not affect the basal tone but inhibited the contraction induced by 5-HT and KCl. Calcium chloride-induced contractions were significantly inhibited in the presence of taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) (p<0.05). The relaxation to taurine was inhibited by tetraethylammonium (p<0.05). However, glibenclamide and 4-aminopyridine did not affect taurine -induced relaxations. Present experiments show that taurine inhibits 5-HT and KCl -induced contractions in RA, and suggest that large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels may be involved in taurine -induced relaxation of RA.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2014

ClC-1 is a member of a large family of voltage-gated chloride channels, abundantly expressed in human skeletal muscle. Mutations in ClC-1 are associated with myotonia congenita (MC) and result in loss of regulation of membrane excitability in skeletal muscle. We studied the electrophysiological characteristics of six mutants found among Korean MC patients, using patch clamp methods in HEK293 cells. Here, we found that the autosomal dominant mutants S189C and P480S displayed reduced chloride conductances compared to WT. Autosomal recessive mutant M128I did not show a typical rapid deactivation of Cl- currents. While sporadic mutant G523D displayed sustained activation of $Cl^-$ currents in the whole cell traces, the other sporadic mutants, M373L and M609K, demonstrated rapid deactivations. $V_{1/2}$ of these mutants was shifted to more depolarizing potentials. In order to identify potential effects on gating processes, slow and fast gating was analyzed for each mutant. We show that slow gating of the mutants tends to be shifted toward more positive potentials in comparison to WT. Collectively, these six mutants found among Korean patients demonstrated modifications of channel gating behaviors and reduced chloride conductances that likely contribute to the physiologic changes of MC.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.707-715
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• 2007

The vulnerability of concrete to its environment is significantly dependent on the fact that concrete is a porous material. For well-consolidated and well-cured concrete, its service life is a very long and an entrance of aggressive substance might be only pores. However, for cracked concrete, cracks should be preferential channel for the penetration of aggressive substance such as chloride ions. The effect of crack on chloride penetration depends on its size for example, crack width and crack depth. The purpose of this study is examining the effect of crack width and crack depth on chloride penetration. In order to visualize chloride penetration via cracks, RCM (rapid chloride migration) testing is accomplished. Crack width is examined using an optical microscope and CMOD value is used to estimate average crack width. From the examination on the trend of chloride diffusion coefficients of concrete specimens with various crack widths, a critical crack width and a critical crack depth are found out.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2013

Polygalae radix (PR) has traditionally been used as a sedative and anti-stress agent in oriental countries for a long time. PR which contains many ingredients is especially rich in saponins. This study was performed to investigate whether ethanol extract of PR enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors. In addition, possible mechanisms also were investigated. PR inhibited locomotor activity in mice. PR increased sleep rate and sleep time by concomitant administration with sub-hypnotic dose of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg). PR prolonged total sleeping time, and shortened sleep latency induced by pentobarbital (42 mg/kg). In addition, PR increased intracellular chloride concentration in primary cultured neuronal cells. The expression level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were increased, and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid $(GABA)_A$ receptors subunits were modulated by PR, especially increasing ${\gamma}$-subunit expression. In conclusion, PR augments penobarbital-induced sleep behaviors through activation of $GABA_A$ receptors and chloride channel complex.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.395-398
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• 1992

Rate of solvolysis of dansyl chloride in aqueous binary mixtures of acetone, methanol and ethanol are reported. Kinetic solvent isotope effects in methanol and product selectivities in alcohol-water mixtures are also reported. Kinetic data are interpreted with the Grunwald-Winstein and Kivinen equations. The value of $k_{CH3OH}/k_{CH3OD}=1.76$ suggests that a general have catalyzed and/or an $S_AN$ pathway is operative in methanol, a less polar solvent. Rate-rate profiles for solvolysis of dansyl chloride in the aqueous binary media indicate a change in reaction channel from $S_AN$ (in less polar media) to $S_N2$ (in more polar media) mechanism.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.525-528
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• 2008

For well-constructed concrete, its service life is a long term and it has an enough durability performance. However, for cracked concrete, it is clear that cracks should be preferential channel for the penetration of aggressive substance such as chloride ions according to author's previous researches. In order to enhance the lifetime of cracked concrete, critical issues in the performance of the concrete is the risk of chloride-induced corrosion. Even though crack width can be reduced due to the high reinforcement ratio, the question is to which extend these cracks may jeopardize the durability of cracked concrete. If the size of crack is small, surface treatment system can be considered as one of the best options to extend the service life of concrete structures exposed to marine environment simply in terms of cost effectiveness versus durability performance. Thus, it should be decided to undertake an experimental study on the effect of different types of surface treatment system, which are expected to seal the concrete and the cracks to chloride-induced corrosion in particular. In this study, it is examined the effect of surfaced treated systems on chloride penetration through microcracks. Single surface treatments of penetrant or coating and double application were considered as an experimental variation. RCM (Rapid Chloride Migration) testing is accomplished to visualize chloride penetration via cracks.

• 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.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.208-214
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• 2008

The equilibrium molecular-dynamic simulations have been performed to estimate the properties of the three kinds of fluids (the Lennard-Jones fluid, water and aqueous sodium-chloride solution) confined between two plates that are separated by 1.086 nm; included in the equilibrium properties are the density distribution and the static structure, and the diffusivity in the dynamic property. Three kinds of fluids considered in this study are. The water molecules are modeled by using the SPC/E model and the ions by the charged Lennard-Jones particle model. To treat the water molecules, we combined the quaternion coordinates with Euler angles. We also proposed a plausible algorithm to assign the initial position and direction of molecules. The influence of polarization of water molecules as well as the presence of ions in the solution on the properties will be addressed in this study. In addition, we performed the non-equilibrium molecular-dynamic simulation to compute the flow velocity for the case with the gravitational force acting on molecules.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.208-214
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• 2008

The equilibrium molecular-dynamic simulations have been performed to estimate the properties of the three kinds of fluids (the Lennard-Jones fluid, water and aqueous sodium-chloride solution) confined between two plates that are separated by 1.086 nm; included in the equilibrium properties are the density distribution and the static structure, and the diffusivity in the dynamic property. Three kinds of fluids considered in this study are. The water molecules are modeled by using the SPC/E model and the ions by the charged Lennard-Jones particle model. To treat the water molecules, we combined the quaternion coordinates with Euler angles. We also proposed a plausible algorithm to assign the initial position and direction of molecules. The influence of polarization of water molecules as well as the presence of ions in the solution on the properties will be addressed in this study. In addition, we performed the non-equilibrium molecular-dynamic simulation to compute the flow velocity for the case with the gravitational force acting on molecules.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.144-151
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• 2015

Development of hypertension is caused by complex contributions of genetic and environmental factors. In spite of the increased understanding of hypertension, genetic factors that contribute to hypertension largely remain elusive. ANO1 gene encoding a calcium-activated chloride channel has recently been reported to affect spontaneous hypertension in the animal model. In this report, we investigated possible association of the ANO1 gene with hypertension in human with ANO1 variants found in Korean population. Fourteen polymorphisms of ANO1 gene were analyzed to be associated with hypertension. Interestingly, the six polymorphisms that showed statistically significant association were all the male subjects. The highest significant SNP was rs7127129 (OR=1.14, CI: 1.02~1.28, additive P=0.023; OR=1.24, CI: 1.03~1.49, dominant P=0.025), and other five SNPs (rs2509153, rs11235473, rs10751200, rs10898827 and rs10899928) were also statistically associated with hypertension. Consequently, we found that the genetic variants of ANO1 present statistically significant associations with hypertension in human, especially, in male. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report describing association of genetic polymorphisms of ANO1 with hypertension in human.