• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2009

Zinc released from excited glutamatergic neurons accelerates amyloid ${\beta}$ (A ${\beta}$) aggregation, underscoring the therapeutic potential of zinc chelation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Zinc can also alter A ${\beta}$ concentration by affecting its degradation. In order to elucidate the possible role of zinc influx in secretase-processed A ${\beta}$ production, SH-SY5Y cells stably expressing amyloid precursor protein (APP) were treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a zinc ionophore, and the resultant changes in APP processing were examined. PDTC decreased A ${\beta}$ 40 and A ${\beta}$ 42 concentrations in culture media bathing APP-expressing SH-SY5Y cells. Measuring the levels of a series of C-terminal APP fragments generated by enzymatic cutting at different APP-cleavage sites showed that both ${\beta}$-and ${\alpha}$-cleavage of APP were inhibited by zinc influx. PDTC also interfered with the maturation of APP. PDTC, however, paradoxically increased the intracellular levels of A ${\beta}$ 40. These results indicate that inhibition of secretase-mediated APP cleavage accounts -at least in part- for zinc inhibition of A ${\beta}$ secretion.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.2873-2876
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• 2010

Excess free iron generates oxidative stress that may contribute to the pathogenesis of various causes of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have shown that one of the primary causes of increased brain iron may be the release of excess iron from intracellular iron storage molecules. In this study, we attempted to characterize the oxidative damage of DNA induced by the reaction of ferritin with $H_2O_2$. When DNA was incubated with ferritin and $H_2O_2$, DNA strand breakage increased in a time-dependent manner. Hydroxyl radical scavengers strongly inhibited the ferritin/$H_2O_2$ system-induced DNA cleavage. We investigated the generation of hydroxyl radical in the reaction of ferritin with $H_2O_2$ using a chromogen, 2,2'-azinobis-(2-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), which reacted with ${\cdot}OH$ to form $ABTS^{+\cdot}$. The initial rate of $ABTS^{+\cdot}$ formation increased as a function of incubation time. These results suggest that DNA strand breakage is mediated in the reaction of ferritin with $H_2O_2$ via the generation of hydroxyl radicals. The iron-specific chelator, deferoxamine, also inhibited DNA cleavage. Spectrophotometric study using a color reagent showed that the release of iron from $H_2O_2$-treated ferritin increased in a time-dependent manner. Ferritin enhanced mutation of the lacZ' gene in the presence of $H_2O_2$ when measured as a loss of $\alpha$-complementation. These results indicate that ferritin/$H_2O_2$ system-mediated DNA cleavage and mutation may be attributable to hydroxyl radical generation via a Fenton-like reaction of free iron ions released from oxidatively damaged ferritin.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.175-184
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium (CM) derived from endometrial stromal cells on mouse preantral follicle culture in a two-dimensional system to produce competent mature oocytes for fertilization. Methods: In total, 240 preantral follicles were isolated from female mouse ovarian tissue and divided into four groups. The preantral follicles were isolated three times for each group and then cultured, respectively, in the presence of alpha minimum essential medium (control), PRP, CM, and PRP+CM. The in vitro growth, in vitro maturation, and cleavage percentage of the preantral follicles were investigated. Immunocytochemistry (IHC) was also conducted to monitor the meiotic progression of the oocytes. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of the two folliculogenesis-related genes (Gdf9 and Bmp15) and two apoptosis-related genes (Bcl2 and Bax) were investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: In the PRP, CM, and PRP+CM groups, the preantral follicle maturation (evaluated by identifying polar bodies) were greater than the control group. The cleavage rate in the CM, and PRP+CM groups were also greater than the control group. IHC analysis demonstrated that in each treatment group, meiotic spindle was normal. In the PRP+CM group, the gene expression levels of Bmp15, Gdf9, and Bcl2 were greater than in the other groups. The Bax gene was more strongly expressed in the PRP and control groups than in the other groups. Conclusion: Overall, the present study suggests that the combination of CM and PRP can effectively increase the growth and cleavage rate of mouse preantral follicles in vitro.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.2976-2980
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• 2012

Nitrile-forming eliminations from (E)-2,4-$(NO_2)_2C_6H_2CH=NOC_6H_4-2-X-4-NO_2$ (1a-e) promoted by $R_3N$ in MeCN have been studied kinetically. The reactions are second-order and exhibit Br$\ddot{o}$nsted ${\beta}$ = 0.83-1.0 and ${\mid}{\beta}_{lg}{\mid}$ = 0.41-0.46. The results have been interpreted in terms of highly E1cb-like transition state with extensive $C_{\beta}$-H bond cleavage and limited $N_{\alpha}$-OAr bond cleavage. Comparison with existing data reveals that the structure of the transition state changes from E2-central to highly E1cb-like either by the change of the ${\beta}$-aryl group from Ph to 2,4-dinitrophenyl under the same condition or by the base-solvent system variation from $EtO^-$-EtOH to $Et_3N$-MeCN for a given substrate (1a-e).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1921-1924
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• 2011

Nitrile-forming eliminations from $(E)-2,4,6-(NO_2)_3C_6H_2CH=NOC_6H_4-2-X-4-NO_2$ (1) promoted by $R_3NH/R_3NH^+$ in 70 mol % MeCN(aq) have been studied kinetically. When X = $NO_2$, the reactions exhibited second-order kinetics as well as Br$\"{o}$nsted ${\beta}$ = 0.63 and ${\mid}{\beta}_{lg}{\mid}$ = 0.34-0.46, and an E2 mechanism is evident. As the leaving group was made poorer (X = H, Cl, and $CF_3$), Br$\"{o}$nsted ${\beta}$ value increased from 0.63 to 0.85-0.89 without much change in the ${\mid}{\beta}_{lg}{\mid}$ value E2, indicating that structure of the transition state changed to an E1cb-like with extensive $C_{\beta}-H$ bond cleavage, significant negative charge development at the ${\beta}$-carbon, and limited $C_{\alpha}$-OAr bond cleavage.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.168-181
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• 2017

Whole cell of Phanerochaete chrysosporium with reducing agent was applied to verify the degradation mechanism of aromatic compounds derived from lignin precisely. Unlike the free-reducing agent experiment, various degraded products of aromatic compounds were detected under the fungal treatment. Our results suggested that demethoxylation, $C_{\alpha}$ oxidation and ring cleavage of aromatic compounds occurred under the catabolic system of P. chrysosporium. After that, degraded products stimulated the primary metabolism of fungus, so succinic acid was ultimately main degradation product of lignin derived-aromatic compounds. Especially, hydroquinone was detected as final intermediate in the degradation of aromatics and production of succinic acid. In conclusions, P. chrysosporium has an unique catabolic metabolism related to the production of succinic acid from lignin derived-aromatic compounds, which was meaningful in terms of lignin valorization.

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.197-204
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• 2010

Cytoskeletal changes were observed during cell division of the green alga Zygnema cruciatum using flourescein isothiocynate (FITC)-conjugated phallacidin for F-actin staining and FITC-anti-$\alpha$-tubulin for microtubule staining. Z. cruciatum was uninucleate with two star-shaped chloroplasts. Nuclear division and cell plate formation occurred prior to chloroplast division. Actin filaments appeared on the chromosome and nuclear surface during prophase, and the F-actin ring appeared as the cleavage furrow developed. FITC-phallacidin revealed that actin filaments were attached to the chromosomes during metaphase. The F-actin ring disappeared at late metaphase. At telophase, FITC-phallacidin staining of actin filaments disappeared. FITC-anti-$\alpha$-tubulin staining revealed that microtubules were arranged beneath the protoplasm during interphase and then localized on the nuclear region at prophase, and that the mitotic spindle was formed during metaphase. The microtubules appeared between dividing chloroplasts. The results indicate that a coordination of actin filaments and microtubules might be necessary for nuclear division and chromosome movement in Z. cruciatum.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.964-970
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• 2018

Atherosclerosis preferentially involves in prone area of low and disturbed blood flow while steady and high levels of laminar blood flow are relatively protected from atherosclerosis. Disturbed flow induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). ER stress is caused under stress that disturbs the processing and folding of proteins resulting in the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER and activation of the UPR. Prolonged or severe UPR leads to activate apoptotic signaling. Recent studies have indicated that disturbed flow significantly up-regulated $p-ATF6{\alpha}$, $p-IRE1{\alpha}$, and its target spliced XBP-1. However, the role of laminar flow in ER stress-mediated endothelial apoptosis has not been reported yet. The present study thus investigated the role of laminar flow in ER stress-dependent endothelial cell death. The results demonstrated that laminar flow protects ER stress-induced cleavage forms of PARP-1 and caspase-3. Also, laminar flow inhibits ER stress-induced $p-eIF2{\alpha}$, ATF4, CHOP, spliced XBP-1, ATF6 and JNK pathway; these effects are abrogated by pharmacological inhibition of PI3K with wortmannin. Finally, nitric oxide affects thapsigargin-induced cell death in response to laminar flow but not UPR. Taken together, these findings indicate that laminar flow inhibits UPR and ER stress-induced endothelial cell death via PI3K/Akt pathway.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2017

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a biological membranes compound. As the antioxidant, it decreases the oxidized forms of other antioxidant substances such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione (GSH). To examine the effect of ALA on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes, we investigated intracellular GSH and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Intracellular GSH levels in oocytes treated with 50uM ALA increased significantly (P < 0.05) and exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in intracellular ROS levels compared with the control group. Oocytes matured with 50 uM of ALA during IVM displayed significantly higher cleavage rates (67.8% vs. 83.4%, respectively), and higher blastocyst formation rates and total cell number of blastocysts after PA (31.6%, 58.49 vs. 46.8%, 68.58, respectively) than the control group. In conclusion, these results suggest that treatment with ALA during IVM improves the cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes by increasing the intracellular GSH levels, thereby decreasing the intracellular ROS levels and subsequent embryonic developmental potential of PA.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 1994

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease is essential for the replication of the virus and it is therefore an attractive target for antiviral drugs of HIV-1. Several dipeptide isosteres containing 2-isoxazoline or $\alpha$-hydroxy ketomethylene have been synthesized and their inhibitory effects on the HIV-1 protease examined. The enzymatically active HIV-1 protease was purified to homogeniety from E. coli transformed with a recombinant plasmid (pMAL-pro) containing the entire gene encoding the protease. The purified protease had the substrate specificity with Km value of 9.8$\mu$M when an undecapeptide His-Lys-Ala-Arg-Val-Leu-(p-nitro)Phe-Glu-Ala-Nle-Ser-amide was used as a substrate, and the products from the substrate after specific cleavage by HIV-1 protease were analyzed by HPLC. The synthetic compounds containing dipeptide isosteres showed specific inhibitory effects while a dipeptide isostere containing an isoxazoline ring inhibited the HIV-1 protease competitively with Ki value of 500 $\mu$M. Even if the inhibition effects of HIV-1 protease were not very high, these novel dipeptide isosteres can be used as key structural moieties for developing specific inhibitors of HIV-1 protease.