• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.630-636
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• 2021

Eupafolin, a constituent of the aerial parts of Phyla nodiflora, has neuroprotective property. Because reducing the synaptic release of glutamate is crucial to achieving pharmacotherapeutic effects of neuroprotectants, we investigated the effect of eupafolin on glutamate release in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes and explored the possible mechanism. We discovered that eupafolin depressed 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced glutamate release, and this phenomenon was prevented in the absence of extracellular calcium. Eupafolin inhibition of glutamate release from synaptic vesicles was confirmed through measurement of the release of the fluorescent dye FM 1-43. Eupafolin decreased 4-AP-induced [Ca²⁺]_i elevation and had no effect on synaptosomal membrane potential. The inhibition of P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels reduced the decrease in glutamate release that was caused by eupafolin, and docking data revealed that eupafolin interacted with P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels. Additionally, the inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) prevented the effect of eupafolin on evoked glutamate release. Eupafolin also reduced the 4-AP-induced activation of CaMK II and the subsequent phosphorylation of synapsin I, which is the main presynaptic target of CaMKII. Therefore, eupafolin suppresses P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels and thereby inhibits CaMKII/synapsin I pathways and the release of glutamate from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.198-204
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• 1997

tyrosine 인산화효소계를 통한 신호전달은 신경의 발생과 연접환성조절에 중요한 역할을 한다. 흰쥐 소뇌의 연접후치밀질에 존재하는 tyrosine 함유 당백질들을 조사하기 위하여 immunoblot 분석을 한 결과, 소뇌 연접후치밀질의 전반적인 단백질조성은 전뇌와 비슷하였다. phosphotyrosine 특이성 항체로, immunobolot 한 결과 소뇌의 주된 tyrosine 인산화 단백질은 50 kD 크기의 새로운 단백질이었다. PSD-50로 명명한 이 단백질은 SDS-PAGE에서 $\alpha$CaMKII와 같은 위치에 이동하였다. 그러나 소뇌에는 전뇌에 비하여 적은량의 $\alpha$CaMKII가 존재함에도 불구하고 전뇌보다 더 강한 phosphotyrosine immunoblot signal을 보이는 것으로 보아 PSD-50는 아마도 $\alpha$CaMKII와는 다른 단백질로 추정된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권10호
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• pp.516-521
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• 2021

Although arginase primarily participates in the last reaction of the urea cycle, we have previously demonstrated that arginase II is an important cytosolic calcium regulator through spermine production in a p32-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrated that rhaponticin (RPT) is a novel medicinal-plant arginase inhibitor and investigated its mechanism of action on Ca²⁺-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation. RPT was uncompetitively inhibited for both arginases I and II prepared from mouse liver and kidney. It also inhibited arginase activity in both aorta and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Using both microscope and FACS analyses, RPT treatments induced increases in cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels using Fluo-4 AM as a calcium indicator. Increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ elicited the phosphorylations of both CaMKII and eNOS Ser1177 in a time-dependent manner. RPT incubations also increased intracellular L-arginine (L-Arg) levels and activated the CaMKII/AMPK/Akt/eNOS signaling cascade in HUVECs. Treatment of L-Arg and ABH, arginase inhibitor, increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations and activated CaMKII-dependent eNOS activation in ECs of WT mice, but, the effects were not observed in ECs of inositol triphosphate receptor type 1 knockout (IP3R1^-/-) mice. In the aortic endothelium of WT mice, RPT also augmented nitric oxide (NO) production and attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In a vascular tension assay using RPT-treated aortic tissue, cumulative vasorelaxant responses to acetylcholine (Ach) were enhanced, and phenylephrine (PE)-dependent vasoconstrictive responses were retarded, although sodium nitroprusside and KCl responses were not different. In this study, we present a novel mechanism for RPT, as an arginase inhibitor, to increase cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in a L-Arg-dependent manner and enhance endothelial function through eNOS activation.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.128.1-128.1
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• 2003

VR1, a capsaicin receptor, is now known to playa major role in mediating inflammatory thermal nociception. Although the physiological role or biophysical properties of VR1 are known, its activation mechanisms by ligands are poorly understood. Here, we show that VR1 requires phosphorylation by $Ca^{2+}$-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) for its activation by capsaicin. In contrast, dephosphorylation by calcineurin, leads to desensitization of the receptor. Point mutation of VR1 at two putative consensus sites for CaMKII fails to elicit capsaicin-sensitive currents with concomitant reduction in phosphorylation of VR1 in vivo. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.517-524
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• 2014

Phasic and tonic ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acidA ($GABA_A$) receptor-mediated inhibition critically regulate neuronal information processing. As these two inhibitory modalities have distinctive features in their receptor composition, subcellular localization of receptors, and the timing of receptor activation, it has been thought that they might exert distinct roles, if not completely separable, in the regulation of neuronal function. Inhibition should be maintained and regulated depending on changes in network activity, since maintenance of excitation-inhibition balance is essential for proper functioning of the nervous system. In the present study, we investigated how phasic and tonic inhibition are maintained and regulated by different signaling cascades. Inhibitory postsynaptic currents were measured as either electrically evoked events or spontaneous events to investigate regulation of phasic inhibition in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of the rat visual cortex. Tonic inhibition was assessed as changes in holding currents by the application of the $GABA_A$ receptor blocker bicuculline. Basal tone of phasic inhibition was maintained by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). However, maintenance of tonic inhibition relied on protein kinase A activity. Depolarization of membrane potential (5 min of 0 mV holding) potentiated phasic inhibition via $Ca^{2+}$ and CaMKII but tonic inhibition was not affected. Thus, phasic and tonic inhibition seem to be independently maintained and regulated by different signaling cascades in the same cell. These results suggest that neuromodulatory signals might differentially regulate phasic and tonic inhibition in response to changes in brain states.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2004년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.4-4
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• 2004

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.331-336
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• 2010

In rapidly growing tumors, hypoxia commonly develops due to the imbalance between $O_2$ consumption and supply. Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-$1{\alpha}$ is a transcription factor responsible for tumor growth and angiogenesis in the hypoxic microenvironment; thus, its inhibition is regarded as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Given that CamKII or PARP inhibitors are emerging anticancer agents, we investigated if they have the potential to be developed as new HIF-$1{\alpha}$-targeting drugs. When treating various cancer cells with the inhibitors, we found that a CamKII inhibitor, KN-62, effectively suppressed HIF-$1{\alpha}$ specifically in hepatoma cells. To examine the effect of KN-62 on HIF-$1{\alpha}$-driven gene expression, we analyzed the EPO-enhancer reporter activity and mRNA levels of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ downstream genes, such as EPO, LOX and CA9. Both the reporter activity and the mRNA expression were repressed by KN-62. We also found that KN-62 suppressed HIF-$1{\alpha}$ by impairing synthesis of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ protein. Based on these results, we propose that KN-62 is a candidate as a HIF-$1{\alpha}$-targeting anticancer agent.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권2호통권82호
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• pp.198-203
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• 2007

형질전환은 유전자의 기능을 이해하는데 매우 중요한 기법이다. $Ca^{2+}$-인산 침전법은 시간과 비용이 저렴하여 가장 흔히 사용된다. 그러나 성숙 신경세포는 어린 신경세포나 다른 세포종에 비하여 형질전환이 어렵고 쉽게 죽는다. 본 연구에서는 Clontech사의 $CalPhos^{TM}$ Mammalian Transfection 방법을 수정하여 성숙한 신경세포를 효율적으로 형질전환할 수 있는 방법을 고안하였다. 대뇌 신경교세포를 DMEM/10% 말혈청에서 70-80% confluence까지 키우고 배지를 혈청이 첨가되지 않은 Neurobasal/Ara-C로 바꾸어 주어 더 이상 신경교세포가 분열하지 않게 한 다음, 여기에 E19 해마신경세포를 접종하여 배양하였다. $DNA/Ca^{2+}$-인산 침전물은 Clontech사의 $CalPhos^{TM}$ Mammalian Transfection Kit을 이용하여 크기($0.5-1\;{\mu}m$ in diameter) 및 농도(약 10 particles/$100\;{\mu}m^2$)를 배지에서 배양시간을 변화시켜 적당히 조절하였다. 이렇게 하면 in vitro에서 2주 이상 배양한 신경세포도 24-well plate 한 well당 10-15개의 형질전환된 건강한 신경세포를 얻을 수 있었다. 이 방법의 효용성을 검증하기 위하여 연접단백질인 $EGFP-CaMKII{\alpha}$ 융합단백질과 RFP 단백질 유전자(각각 $pEGFP-CaMKII{\alpha}$ 및 pDsRed2)를 형질전환한 결과 전자는 점박이 모양, 후자는 세포전체에 퍼진 양상의 표현을 관찰할 수 있었다. 따라서 본 연구는 성숙한 신경세포를 효율적으로 형질전환할 수 있는 방법을 제공한다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.101-109
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• 2016

Reducing $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ to 0.1 mM can evoke repetitive $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes and seizure activity, which induces neuronal cell death in a process called excitotoxicity. We examined the issue of whether cultured rat hippocampal neurons preconditioned by a brief exposure to 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ are rendered resistant to excitotoxicity induced by a subsequent prolonged exposure and whether $Ca^{2+}$ spikes are involved in this process. Preconditioning by an exposure to 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ for 5 min inhibited significantly subsequent 24 h exposure-induced cell death 24 h later (tolerance). Such tolerance was prevented by both the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5 and the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonist nimodipine, which blocked 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. The AMPA receptor antagonist NBQX significantly inhibited both the tolerance and the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. The intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator BAPTA-AM significantly prevented the tolerance. The nonspecific PKC inhibitor staurosporin inhibited the tolerance without affecting the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. While $G{\ddot{o}}6976$, a specific inhibitor of $PKC{\alpha}$ had no effect on the tolerance, both the $PKC{\varepsilon}$ translocation inhibitor and the $PKC{\zeta}$ pseudosubstrate inhibitor significantly inhibited the tolerance without affecting the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. Furthermore, JAK-2 inhibitor AG490, MAPK kinase inhibitor PD98059, and CaMKII inhibitor KN-62 inhibited the tolerance, but PI-3 kinase inhibitor LY294,002 did not. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide significantly inhibited the tolerance. Collectively, these results suggest that low $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ preconditioning induced excitotoxic tolerance was directly or indirectly mediated through the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spike-induced activation of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ and $PKC{\xi}$, JAK-2, MAPK kinase, CaMKII and the de novo synthesis of proteins.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.109-114
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• 2018

Liquiritigenin (LQ) is a flavonoid that can be isolated from Glycyrrhiza radix. It is frequently used as a tranditional oriental medicine herbal treatment for swelling and injury and for detoxification. However, the effects of LQ on cognitive function have not been fully explored. In this study, we evaluated the memory-enhancing effects of LQ and the underlying mechanisms with a focus on the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) in mice. Learning and memory ability were evaluated with the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests following administration of LQ. In addition, the expression of NMDAR subunits 1, 2A, and 2B; postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95); phosphorylation of $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII); phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2); and phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding (CREB) proteins were examined by Western blot. In vivo, we found that treatment with LQ significantly improved memory performance in both behavioral tests. In vitro, LQ significantly increased NMDARs in the hippocampus. Furthermore, LQ significantly increased PSD-95 expression as well as CaMKII, ERK, and CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus. Taken together, our results suggest that LQ has cognition enhancing activities and that these effects are mediated, in part, by activation of the NMDAR and CREB signaling pathways.