• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.635-646
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• 2011

Due to its high external and low internal concentration the $Ca^{2+}$ ion is used ubiquitously as an intracellular signaling molecule, and a great many $Ca^{2+}$-sensing proteins have evolved to receive and propagate $Ca^{2+}$ signals. Among them are ion channel proteins, whose $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity allows internal $Ca^{2+}$ to influence the electrical activity of cell membranes and to feedback-inhibit further $Ca^{2+}$ entry into the cytoplasm. In this review I will describe what is understood about the $Ca^{2+}$ sensing mechanisms of the three best studied classes of $Ca^{2+}$-sensitive ion channels: Large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels, small-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels, and voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ channels. Great strides in mechanistic understanding have be made for each of these channel types in just the past few years.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 1992

The effects of $Ca_{2+}$ ion on the formation of micelle colloid of nonionic surfactants, nonylphenol-(ethylene oxide)n [NP-(EO)n: n= 11, 40, 100) were investigated by the iodine solubilization method. The characteristics of spectra depended on the concentration of $Ca_{2+}$ ion and the number of EO unit. Above CMC(critical micelle concentration), the intensity of the CT (charge transfer) band by the addition of $Ca_{2+}$ ion for the NP-(EO)11 and NP-(EO)40 increased and when decreased and for the NP-(EO)In continuously increased. The increase in the intensity of CT band were attributed to the compactness of micelle in the presence of $Ca_{2+}$ ion. These phenomena may be explained by the fact that the linear ethylene oxide (EO) chain, relatively free to assume various configuration in aqueous solution, could form a pseudo-crown ether structures capable of forming complexes with $Ca_{2+}$ ion.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.528-534
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• 2022

Mitochondria are cellular organelles that perform various functions within cells. They are responsible for ATP production, cell-signal regulation, autophagy, and cell apoptosis. Because the mitochondrial proteins that perform these functions need Ca²⁺ ions for their activity, mitochondria have ion channels to selectively uptake Ca²⁺ ions from the cytoplasm. The ion channel known to play the most important role in the Ca²⁺ uptake in mitochondria is the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) holo-complex located in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). This ion channel complex exists in the form of a complex consisting of the pore-forming protein through which the Ca²⁺ ions are transported into the mitochondrial matrix, and the auxiliary protein involved in regulating the activity of the Ca²⁺ uptake by the MCU holo-complex. Studies of this MCU holo-complex have long been conducted, but we didn't know in detail how mitochondria uptake Ca²⁺ ions through this ion channel complex or how the activity of this ion channel complex is regulated. Recently, the protein structure of the MCU holo-complex was identified, enabling the mechanism of Ca²⁺ uptake and its regulation by the MCU holo-complex to be confirmed. In this review, I will introduce the mechanism of action of the MCU holo-complex at the molecular level based on the Cryo-EM structure of the MCU holo-complex to help understand how mitochondria uptake the necessary Ca²⁺ ions through the MCU holo-complex and how these Ca²⁺ uptake mechanisms are regulated.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.621-626
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• 1992

The effects of $Ca^{2+}$ ion on the charge transfer(CT) interaction of $4-(C_9H_{19})C_6H_4O(CH_2CH_2O)_{40} [NP-(EO)_{40}]$ with iodine in aqueous solution were investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometer. Maximum absorption wavelengths to the CT interaction were in the vicinity of 390 nm, and by the addition of $Ca^{2+}$ ion shifted toward 370 nm. Above CMC, the intensity of the CT interaction by the addition of $Ca^{2+}$ ion were increased and then decreased. The increase in the intensity of CT band were attributed to the increase of the donor-acceptor overlap with iodine caused by the compactness of micelle in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ ion. These phenomena suggest that the linear oxyethylene(EO) chains, relatively free to assume various configuration in aqueous solution, could form a pseudo-crown ether structures capable of forming complexes with $Ca^{2+}$ ion.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1993

In the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ ion, the charge transfer (CT) interaction of nonionic surfactants, $nonylphenol-(ethylene oxide)_n\;[NP-(EO)_n; n = 11, 40, 100]$ with iodine in aqueous solution were investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometer. The characteristics of spectra depended on the concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ion and the number of EO unit. Above CMC, the intensity of the CT band by the addition of $Ca^{2+}$ ion for the $NP-(EO)_{11}$ and $NP-(EO)_{40}$ increased and then decreased, while for the $NP-(EO)_{100}$ continuously increased. The increase in the intensity of CT band were attributed to the compactness of micelle in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ ion. These phenomena may be explained by the fact that the linear ethylene oxide (EO) chain, to be free configuration in aqueous solution, could form a pseudo-crown ether structures capable of forming complexes with $Ca^{2+}$ ion.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.32-40
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• 2005

The last two decades have shown a marked expansion in publications of diverse effects of Panax ginseng. Ginsenosides, as active ingredients of Panax ginseng, are saponins found in only ginseng. Recently, a line of evidences shows that ginsenosides regulate various types of ion channel activity such as Ca$^{2+}$, K$^+$, Na$^+$, Cl$^-$, or ligand gated ion channels (i.e. 5-HT$_3$, nicotinic acetylcholine, or NMDA receptor) in neuronal, non-neuronal cells, and heterologously expressed cells. Ginsenosides inhibit voltage-dependent Ca$^{2+}$, K$^+$, and Na$^+$ channels, whereas ginsenosides activate Ca$^{2+}$-activated Cl$^-$ and Ca$^{2+}$-activated K$^+$ channels. Ginsenosides also inhibit excitatory ligand-gated ion channels such as 5-HT$_3$. nicotinic acetylcholine, and NMDA receptors. This presentation will introduce recent findings on the ginsenoside-induced differential regulations of ion channel activities as a ligand as other drugs do.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.3115-3117
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• 2010

The voltammetric study on a water-soluble calix[4]arene-diquinone-diacid (CDA) in pH 7.4 in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ ion provided important information about the unique electrochemical behavior of CDA-$Ca^{2+}$ complex. Using CDA, $Ca^{2+}$ ion in aqueous solution was recognized quantitatively by voltammetric techniques.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 1991

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Ca and BSA on hydrogen ion concentration in sperm washed solution. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The hydrogen concentration in 1st and 2nd sperm washed solutions was signifcinatly(p<0.01) higher when sperm was washed with SHPsolution containing 2mM Ca than when sperm washed with SHP solution or SHP solution containing 10mM Ca. 2. The hydrogen ion concentration in sperm washed solution was significnatly(p<0.05) higher when seprm was washed with SHP solution containing BSA-FAF than when sperm was washed with SHP solution or SHP solution containing BSA-V.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.30-30
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• 2003

Without a definitive resolution of stoichiometry of cardiac Na$^{+}$-Ca$^{2+}$exchange (NCX), we cannot proceed to any quantitative analysis of exchange function as well as cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. The stoichiometry of cardiac NCX, however, is presently in doubt because reversal potentials determined by various groups range between those expected for a 3-to-1 and a 4-to-1 flux coupling. For a new perspective on this problem, we have used ion-selective microelectrodes to quantify directly exchanger-mediated fluxes of $Ca^{2+}$and Na$^{+}$in giant membrane patches. $Ca^{2+}$- and Na$^{+}$-selective microelectrodes, fabricated from quartz capillaries, are placed inside of the patch pipettes to detect extracellular ion transients associated with exchange activity. Ion changes are monitored at various distances from the membrane, and the absolute ion fluxes through NCX are determined via simulations of ion diffusion and compared with standard ion fluxes (Ca$^{2+}$ fluxes mediated by $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore, and Na$^{+}$ fluxes through gramicidin channels and Na$^{+}$/K$^{+}$pumps). Both guinea pig myocytes and NCX1-expressing BHK cells were employed, and for both systems the calculated stoichiometries for inward and outward exchange currents range between 3.2- and 3.4-to-1. The coupling ratios do not change significantly when currents are varied by changing cytoplasmic [Ca$^{2+}$] or by adding cytoplasmic Na$^{+}$. The exchanger reversal potentials, measured in both systems under several ionic conditions, range from 3.1- to 3.3-to-1. Taken together, a clear discrepancy from a NCX stoichiometry of 3-to-1 was obtained. Further definitive experiments are required to acquire a fixed number, and the present working hypothesis is that NCX current has an extra current via ‘conduction mode’.ent via ‘conduction mode’.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2005

The last two decades have shown a marked expansion in publications of diverse effects of Panax ginseng. Ginsenosides, as active ingredients of Panax ginseng, are saponins found in only ginseng. Recently, a line of evidences shows that ginsenosides regulate various types of ion channel activity such as $Ca^{2+},\;K^+,\;Na^+,\;Cl^-$, or ligand gated ion channels (i.e. $5-HT_3$, nicotinic acetylcholine, or NMDA receptor) in neuronal, non-neuronal cells, and heterologously expressed cells. Ginsenosides inhibit voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+},\;K^+,\;and\;Na^+$ channels, whereas ginsenosides activate $Ca^{2+}-activated\;Cl^-\;and\;Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+$ channels. Ginsenosides also inhibit excitatory ligand-gated ion channels such as $5-HT_3$, nicotinic acetylcholine, and NMDA receptors. This review will introduce recent findings on the ginsenoside-induced differential regulations of ion channel activities and will further expand the possibilities how these ginsenoside-induced ion channel regulations are coupled to biological effects of Panax ginseng.