• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 1998

Human annexin I is a member of annexin family of calcium dependent phospholipid binding proteins, which have been implicated in various physiological roles including phospholipase A2(PLA2) inhibition, membrane fusion and calcium channel activity. In this work, the structure of N-terminally truncated human annexin I ({{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I) and its interactions with Ca2+, ATP and cAMP were studied at atomic level by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The effect of Ca2+ binding on the structure of {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I was investigated. The addition of Ca2+ to {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I caused some changes in 13C NMR spectra. Carbonyl carbon resonances of some histidines were significantly broadened by Ca2+ binding. However, in the case of methionine, phenylalanine, and tyrosin, small changes could be observed. We found that ATP and cAMP bind {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I, and the binding ratio of ATP to {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I is 1. These results are well consistent with the report that cAMP and ATP interact with annexin I, and affect the calcium channels formed by annexin I. Because {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I is a large protein with 35 kDa molecular weight, site-specific (carbonyl-13C) labeling technique was used to study the interaction sites of {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I with Ca2+. NMR study was focused on the carbonyl carbon resonances of tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine and histidine residues of {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I because the number of these amino acids is small in the amino acid sequence of {{{{ DELTA }}-annexin I.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.791-795
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• 1999

The crystal structure of a cyclopropane sorption complex of dehydrated fully Ca (2+) -exchanged zeolite X, Ca46Si100Al92O384· 30C3H6 (a = 24.988(4) Å), has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3 at 21(1)℃. The crystal was prepared by ion exchange in a flowing stream of 0.05M aqueous Ca(NO3)2 for four days, followed by dehydration at 460℃ and 2×10 (-6) Torr for two days, and exposure to 100 Torr of cyclopropane gas at 21(1)℃. The structure was determined in this atmosphere and refined to the final error indices R1 = 0.068 and R2 = 0.082, with 373 reflections for which I > 3σ (I). In this structure, Ca 2+ ions are located at two crystallographic sites. Sixteen Ca 2+ ions fill the octahedral sites I at the centers of the hexagonal prisms (Ca-O = 2.412(9)Å). The remaining 30 Ca 2+ ions are at sites Ⅱ; each extends 0.46Å into the supercage (an increase of 0.16Å upon C3H6 sorption) where it coordinates to three trigonally arranged framework oxygens at 2.311(8)Å. Each of the 30 cyclopropane molecules was found to complex to Ca 2+ ions at site II by the induced dipole interaction (Ca-C = 2.99(4)Å). All carbon atoms in each cyclopropane molecule are equivalent and equidistant from Ca 2+ ions at site II with which they are associated.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.341-346
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• 2005

The mechanism underlying oxidant-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) increase was studied in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) using fura-2 AM. In the presence of 2 mM extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, the application of DTBNP ($20{\mu}M$), a membrane-permeable oxidant, caused an increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, and DTT (2 mM) as a reductant completely reversed the effect of DTBNP. The $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase induced by DTBNP was also observed in an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$-free/2 mM EGTA solution, indicating the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from intracellular store(s). After endoplasmic reticulum was depleted by an $IP_3$-generating agonist, ATP ($30{\mu}M$) or an ER $Ca^{2+}$ pump inhibitor, thapsigargin ($1{\mu}M$), DTBNP-stressed BAECs showed an increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in $Ca^{2+}$-free/2 mM EGTA solution. Ratio-differences before and after the application of DTBNP after pretreatment with ATP or thapsigargin were $0.42{\pm}0.15$ and $0.49{\pm}0.07$, respectively (n=7), which are significantly reduced, compared to the control value of $0.72{\pm}0.07$ in a $Ca^{2+}$-free/2 mM EGTA solution. After the protonophore CCCP ($10{\mu}M$) challenge to release mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$, the similar result was obtained. Ratio-difference before and after the application of DTBNP after pretreatment with CCCP was $0.46{\pm}0.09$ (n=7). Simultaneous application of thapsigargin and CCCP completely abolished the DTBNP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase. The above results together indicate that the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by DTBNP resulted from the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2009

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) is an adenosine analogue isolated from Cordyceps militaris, and it has been used as an anti-cancer and anti-inflammation ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. We investigated the effects of cordycepin on human platelet aggregation induced by thapsigargin, and determined the cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ levels ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), an aggregation-stimulating factor. Cordycepin significantly inhibited thapsigargin-induced platelet aggregation. Its inhibitory effect was continually sustained at the maximal aggregation concentration of thapsigargin. The thapsigargin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were clearly reduced by cordycepin in the presence of exogenous $CaCl_2$ or extracellular $Ca^{2+}$-chelator (EDTA). These results suggest that cordycepin inhibited thapsigargin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-influx from extracellular domain and thapsigargin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-mobilization from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ storage. Accordingly, our data demonstrated that cordycepin may have a beneficial effect on platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic diseases by inhibiting a $[Ca^{2+}]_i$-elevation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.531-540
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• 2022

Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) can positively affect postsynaptic neuronal excitability and epileptogenesis. The objective of the present study was to determine whether group 1 mGluRs might be involved in synaptically-induced intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) spikes and neuronal cell death induced by 0.1 mM Mg²⁺ and 10 µM glycine in cultured rat hippocampal neurons from embryonic day 17 fetal Sprague-Dawley rats using imaging methods for Ca²⁺ and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays for cell survival. Reduction of extracellular Mg²⁺ concentration ([Mg²⁺]_o) to 0.1 mM induced repetitive [Ca²⁺]_i spikes within 30 sec at day 11.5. The mGluR5 antagonist 6-Methyl2-(phenylethynyl) pyridine (MPEP) almost completely inhibited the [Ca²⁺]_i spikes, but the mGluR1 antagonist LY367385 did not. The group 1 mGluRs agonist, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), significantly increased the [Ca²⁺]_i spikes. The phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 significantly inhibited the [Ca²⁺]_i spikes in the absence or presence of DHPG. The IP₃ receptor antagonist 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate or the ryanodine receptor antagonist 8-(diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate also significantly inhibited the [Ca²⁺]_i spikes in the absence or presence of DHPG. The TRPC channel inhibitors SKF96365 and flufenamic acid significantly inhibited the [Ca²⁺]_i spikes in the absence or presence of DHPG. The mGluR5 antagonist MPEP significantly increased the neuronal cell survival, but mGluR1 antagonist LY367385 did not. These results suggest a possibility that mGluR5 is involved in synaptically-induced [Ca²⁺]_i spikes and neuronal cell death in cultured rat hippocampal neurons by releasing Ca²⁺ from IP₃ and ryanodine-sensitive intracellular stores and activating TRPC channels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.182-182
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• 1996

Annexin I is a member of the annexin family of calcium dependent phospholipid binding proteins and has anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting phospholipase A$_2$ (PLA$_2$). Recent X-ray crystallographic study of annexin I identified six Ca$\^$2+/ binding bites, which was different types (type II, III) from the well-known EF-hand motif (type I). In this work, the structure of annexin I was studied at atomic level by using $^1$H, $\^$15/N and $\^$l3/C NMR(nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, and the effect of Ca$\^$2+/ binding on the structure of annexin I was studied, and compared with that of Mg$\^$2+/ binding, When Ca$\^$2+/ was added to annexin I, NMR peak change was occured in high- and low-field regions of $^1$H-NMR spectra. NMR peak change by Ca$\^$2+/ binding was different from that by Mg$\^$2+/ binding. Because annexin I is a larger protein with 35 kDa molecular weight, site-specific (amide-$\^$15/N, carbonyl-$\^$l3/C) labeling technique was also used. We were able to detect methionine, tyrosine and phenylalanine peaks respectively in $\^$13/C-NMR spectra, and each residue was able to be assigned by the method of doubly labeling annexin I with [$\^$13/C] carbonyl-amino acid and [$\^$15/N] amide-amino acid. In $\^$l3/C-NMR spectra of [$\^$13/C] carbonyl-Met labeled annexin I, we observed that methionine residues spatially located near Ca$\^$2+/ binding Sites Were Significantly effected by Ca$\^$2+/ binding. From UV spectroscopic data on the effect of Ca$\^$2+/ binding, we knew that Ca$\^$2+/ binding sites of annexin I have cooperativity in Ca$\^$2+/ binding. The interaction of annexin I with PLA$_2$ also could be detected by using heteronuclear NMR spctroscopy. Consequently, we expect that the anti-inflammatory action mechanism of annexin I may be a specific protein-protein interaction. The residues involved in the interaction with PLA$_2$ can be identified as active site by assigning NMR peaks effected by PLA$_2$ binding.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.804-811
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• 2014

The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although several mechanisms have been suggested to explain PAR-2-induced hypotension, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. To investigate this possibility, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 activation on N-type $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca-N}$) in isolated neurons of the celiac ganglion (CG), which is involved in the sympathetic regulation of mesenteric artery vascular tone. PAR-2 agonists irreversibly diminished voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca}$), measured using the patch-clamp method, in rat CG neurons, whereas thrombin had little effect on $I_{Ca}$. This PAR-2-induced inhibition was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, a potent N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, suggesting the involvement of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels in PAR-2-induced inhibition. In addition, PAR-2 agonists inhibited $I_{Ca-N}$ in a voltage-independent manner in rat CG neurons. Moreover, PAR-2 agonists reduced action potential (AP) firing frequency as measured using the current-clamp method in rat CG neurons. This inhibition of AP firing induced by PAR-2 agonists was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, indicating that PAR-2 activation may regulate the membrane excitability of peripheral sympathetic neurons through modulation of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that the activation of PAR-2 suppresses peripheral sympathetic outflow by modulating N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel activity, which appears to be involved in PAR-2-induced hypotension, in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2015

Background: Ginsenoside Rd (GSRd), one of the most abundant ingredients of Panax ginseng, protects the heart via multiple mechanisms including the inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx.We intended to explore the effects of GSRd on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca,L}$) and define the mechanism of the suppression of $I_{Ca,L}$ by GSRd. Methods: Perforated-patch recording and whole-cell voltage clamp techniques were applied in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. Results: (1) GSRd reduced $I_{Ca,L}$ peak amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner [half-maximal inhibitory concentration $(IC_{50})=32.4{\pm}7.1{\mu}mol/L$] and up-shifted the current-voltage (I-V) curve. (2) GSRd ($30{\mu}mol/L$) significantly changed the steady-state activation curve of $I_{Ca,L}$ ($V_{0.5}:-19.12{\pm}0.68$ vs. $-6.26{\pm}0.38mV$; n = 5, p < 0.05) and slowed down the recovery of $I_{Ca,L}$ from inactivation [the time content (${\zeta}$) from 91 ms to 136 ms, n = 5, p < 0.01]. (3) A more significant inhibitive effect of GSRd ($100{\mu}mol/L$) was identified in perforated-patch recording when compared with whole-cell recording [$65.7{\pm}3.2%$ (n = 10) vs. $31.4{\pm}5.2%$ (n = 5), p < 0.01]. (4) Pertussis toxin ($G_i$ protein inhibitor) completely abolished the $I_{Ca,L}$ inhibition induced by GSRd. There was a significant difference in inhibition potency between the two cyclic adenosine monophosphate elevating agents (isoprenaline and forskolin) prestimulation [$55{\pm}7.8%$ (n = 5) vs. $17.2{\pm}3.5%$ (n = 5), p < 0.01]. (5) 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) and N-acetyl-$\small{L}$-cysteine (a nitric oxide scavenger) partly recovered the $I_{Ca,L}$ inhibition induced by GSRd. (6) Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (a protein kinase C activator) and GF109203X (a protein kinase C inhibitor) did not contribute to the inhibition of GSRd. Conclusion: These findings suggest that GSRd could inhibit $I_{Ca,L}$ through pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein ($G_i$) and a nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent mechanism.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2012

In this study, we are aimed to prevent grain growth of semi-solid AZ31 magnesium alloys during reheating process. The semi-solid AZ31+(Ca) billets were investigated by using metallographic analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy in order to elucidate the effect of Ca addition during reheating process. The grain growth of semi-solid AZ31+(Ca) billet was reduced with increasing Ca content during reheating. The grain size of AZ31+(Ca) billet decreased with increasing volume fraction of Al2Ca particles. The grain growth rate constant K calculated by Oswald ripening LSW theory in AZ31+1.5wt.% Ca billet was the lowest 129.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.384-385
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• 1999

Two anhydrous crystal structures of fully dehydrated, $Ca^{2+}$- and $Tl^+$-exchanged zeolite X, TEX>$Ca_{18}Tl_{56}Si_{100}Al_{92}O_{384}($Ca_{18}Tl_{56}$-X;\alpha=24.883(4)\AA)$ and TEX>$Ca_{32}Tl_{28}Si_{100}Al_{92}O_{384}($Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X;\alpha=24.973(4)\AA)$ per unit cell, have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3 at $21(1)^{\circ}C.$ $Ca_{18}Tl_{56}-X$ was prepared by ion exchange in a flowing stream of 0.045 M aqueous $Ca(NO_3)_2$ and 0.005 M $TlNO_3$. $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}-X$ was prepared similarly using a mixed solution of 0.0495 M $Ca(NO_3)_2$ and 0.0005M $TlNO_3$. Each crystal was then dehydrated at 360 $^{\circ}C$ and $2{\times}10^{-6}$ Torr for 2 days. Their structures were refined to the final error indices, $R_1=0.039\;and\;R_2=0.036$ with 382 reflections for $Ca_{18}Tl_{56}-X$ , and $R_1=0.046\;and\;R_2=0.045$ with 472 reflections for $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X for which $/>3\sigma(I).$ In the structures of dehydrated $Ca_{18}Tl_{56^-}X\;and\;Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X, $Ca^{2+}\;and\;Tl^+$ ions are located at six crystallographic sites. Sixteen $Ca^{2+}$ ions fill the octahedral sites I at the centers of double six rings ($Ca_{18}Tl_{56}$-X:Ca-O=2.42(1) and O-Ca-O=93.06(4)$^{\circ}$; $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X Ca-O=2.40(1) $\AA$ and O-Ca-O=93.08(3)$^{\circ}$). In the structure of $Ca_{18}Tl_{56}$-X, another two $Ca^{2+}$ ions occupy site II (Ca-O=2.35(2) $\AA$ and O-Ca-O=111.69(2)$^{\circ}$) and twenty six $Tl^+$ ions occupy site II opposite single six-rings in the supercage; each is 1.493 $\AA$ from the plane of three oxygens $(Tl-O=2.70(8)\AA$ and O-Tl-O=92.33(4)$^{\circ}$). About four $Tl^+$ ions are found at site II',1.695 $\AA$ into sodalite cavity from their three oxygen plane (Tl-O=2.81 (1) and O-Tl-O=87.48(3)). The remaining twenty six $Tl^+$ ions are distributed over site III'(Tl-O=2.82 (1) $\AA$ and Tl-O=2.88(3)$^{\circ}$). In the structure of $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X, sixteen $Ca^{2+}$ ions and fifteen $Tl^+$ ions occupy site III' (Ca-O=2.26(1) $\AA$ and O-Ca-O=119.14(4)$^{\circ}$; Tl-O=2.70(1) $\AA$ and O-Tl-O=92.38$^{\circ}$) and one $Tl^+$ ion occupies site II'. The remaining twelve $Tl^+$ ions are distributed over site III'. It appears that $Ca^{2+}$ ions prefer sites I and II in that order and $Tl^+$ ions occupy the remaining sites.