• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.217.1-217.1
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• 2003

In previous study, we investigated the mechanism of suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) by ergolide, sesquiterpene lactone from Inula Britannica. In this study, the suppression of iNOS and COX-2 by ergolide might be attributed to selective inhibition of NF-$\_$K/B signaling pathways. Here, we investigated the suppressionmechanism of NF-$\_$K/B signaling pathways by ergolide in TPA-stimulated HeLa cells. (omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-3
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• 2009

Mitotic spindle mediates the segregation of chromosomes in the cell cycle and the proper function of the spindle is crucial to the high fidelity of chromosome segregation and to the stability of the genome. Nucleation of microtubules (MTs) from centrosomes and chromatin represents two well-characterized pathways essential for the assembly of a dynamic spindle in mitosis. Recently, we identified a third MT nucleation pathway, in which existing MTs in the spindle act as a template to promote the nucleation and polymerization of MTs, thereby efficiently amplifying MTs in the spindle. We will review here our current understanding on the molecular mechanism, the physiological function and the cell-cycle regulation of MT amplification.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 2008

The present study was undertaken to determine whether pioglitazone treatment influences on the agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contraction and, if so, to investigate the related mechanism. The measurement of isometric contractions using a computerized data acquisition system was combined with molecular experiments. Pioglitazone decreased Rho-kinase activating agonist-induced contraction but not phorbol ester-induced contraction suggesting the least involvement of $Ca^{2+}$-independent thin filament regulation of contractility. Furthermore, pioglitazone decreased thromboxane $A_2$ mimeticinduced phosphorylation of MYPT1 at Thr855, the newly-highlighted site, instead of Thr696. In conclusion, this study provides the evidence and possible related mechanism concerning the vasorelaxing effect of pioglitazone as an antihypertensive on the agonist-induced contraction in rat aortic rings regardless of endothelial function.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.200-204
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• 2004

Retron is a prokaryotic genetic element that produces multicopy single-stranded DNA covalently linked to RNA (msDNA) by a reverse transcriptase. It was found that cells producing a large amount of msDNA, rather than those that did not, showed a higher rate of mutation. In order to understand the molecular mechanism connecting msDNA production to the high mutation rate the protein patterns were compared by two dimensional gel electrophoresis. Ten proteins were found to be differentially expressed at levels more than three fold greater in cells with than without msDNA, nine of which were identified by MALDI TOF MS. Eight of the nine identified proteins were repressed in msDNA-producing cells and, surprisingly, most were proteins functioning in the dissimilation of various carbon sources. One protein was induced four fold greater in the msDNA producing cells and was identified as a 30S ribosomal protein S2 involved in the regulation of translation. The molecular mechanism underlying the elevated mutation in msDNA-producing cell still remains elusive.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2001

Backbone dynamics of the catalytic residues in free and steroid-bound $\Delta$$^{5}$ -3- ketosteroid isomerase from Pseudomonas testosteroni has been examined by $^{15}$ N relaxation measurements. The relaxation data were analyzed using the model-free formalism to extract the model-free parameters (S$^2$, $\tau$$_{e}$, and R$_{ex}$). Tyr-34 and Asp-99 exhibit enhanced high-frequency (pico- to nanosecond) internal motions in the free enzyme, which are restricted upon ligand binding, while Asp-38 experiences severe restriction of the internal motions in the fee enzyme, suggesting that Tyr-14 and Asp-99 are more actively involved in the ligand binding than Asp-38. The results also indicate that the H-bond network in the catalytic cavity might be slightly strengthened upon ligand binding, which may have some implications on the enzyme mechanism.he enzyme mechanism.m.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2011

In this work, we have investigated the effect of polyoxyethylene alkyl ester nonionic surfactants on percutaneous permeation enhancement of a model drug, ketoprofen. We also investigated the mechanism involved in the enhancement using impedance and solubility measurement. Three groups of nonionic surfactants with different ethylene oxide content were studied. The permeation results showed that all surfactants enhanced the percutaneous absorption, irrespective of the molecular weight. The permeation results from PEG-45 monostearate (PEGMS45) were rather unexpected. Impedance and solubility results indicate that the mechanism involved in the enhancement of permeation by PEG-10 monooleate (PEGMO10) and PEGMS45 is rather different. The results from PEGMS45 suggest that it could be a potential candidate as a skin penetration enhancer with high molecular weight, which may poses less skin irritation and systemic side effect than the smaller surfactant molecules. Overall, this work provided some useful information on percutaneous transport enhancement and the mechanistic insights involved in skin permeation for these nonionic surfactants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.37-38
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• 2001

The cytochrome P450 (P450) 1 family (1A1, 1A2, 1B1) is involved in the activation of many pro-carcinogens. Previously we characterized a number of synthetic bi- and polycyclic hydrocarbon acetylenes as selective-mechanism-based inhibitors of recombinent P450s 1A1, 1A2, 1B1 (Shimada et al., Chem. Res. Toxicol., 11, 1048-1056, 1998). We reported that the drug oltipraz is a mechanism-based indicator of P450 1A2 (Lagouet et al. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 13, 245-252, 2000).(omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.686-693
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• 2020

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system that breaks down damaged organelles or damaged proteins using intracellular lysosomes. Recent studies have also revealed that various forms of selective autophagy play specific physiological roles under different cellular conditions. Lipid droplets, which are mainly found in adipocytes and hepatocytes, are dynamic organelles that store triglycerides and are critical to health. Lipophagy is a type of selective autophagy that targets lipid droplets and is an essential mechanism for maintaining homeostasis of lipid droplets. However, while processes that regulate lipid droplets such as lipolysis and lipogenesis are relatively well known, the major factors that control lipophagy remain largely unknown. This review introduces the underlying mechanism by which lipophagy is induced and regulated, and the current findings on the major roles of lipophagy in physiological and pathological status. These studies will provide basic insights into the function of lipophagy and may be useful for the development of new therapies for lipophagy dysfunction-related diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 1977

HMO correlation diagrams for some competing 1,2-and 1,4-cycloaddition reactions have been made to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The main conclusions obtained from this study are as follows. 1) The crossing between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital was not observed, which indicates that the reaction proceeds thermally, in agreement with the experimental results. 2) From the consideration of the energy barrier in the process of the energy transformation going from reactants to product, the two-step mechanism via a diradical intermediate is preferred over the concerted one. 3) The existance of diradical intermediates can account for the observed product distributions.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.40-60
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• 2003

Fruit ripening represents a genetically synchronized system that involves developmental process unique to plant species, The phenomenon of ripening includes changes in color, texture, respiration rate, flavor, and aroma. Ripe fruits generally exhibit increased susceptibility to pathogen infection. However, fruits as a reproductive organ have their own protection mechanism against pathogens to maintain their integrity during seed maturation. In several nonclimacteric fruits, such as cherry, grape, and pepper, that do not have an ethylene burst during ripening, resistance against phytopathogens increases during ripening. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a causal agent of anthracnose disease in pepper plants (Capsicum annuum). We have established that C. gloeosporioides has susceptible and resistant interactions with pepper fruits during pre- and post-ripening stages, respectively. And we have interested in looking for a molecular mechanism that would explain the fungal resistance during ripening of nonclimacteric pepper fruit. In this presentation, a molecular characterization of the pepper esterase gene (PepEST) that is highly expressed in the resistant response will be demonstrated as an example of development and industrial applications of versatile-usable genes of plant.