• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.230-235
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• 1992

The conformational analysis has been done for catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) in the cationic and di-anionic states. The species responsible for adsorption on silver metal surface is anionic deprotonated at hydroxyl groups of catechol moiety, i.e., di-anionic states of catecholamines. This was deduced from Fourier-transform Raman spectra of sodium salts of catecholamines. High resolution proton NMR (400 MHz) spectra of catecholamines in basic and neutral $D_2O$ solution show that the conformations of norepinephrine and epinephrine in the di-anionic states are preferred in gauche, but not for dopamine in the di-anionic state. However the energy difference between trans and gauche of catecholamines in the protonated cationic states is small enough to rotate freely through C-C bond in ethylamine moiety. The conformational calculations using an empirical potential function and the hydration shell model (a program CONBIO) show consistent with above experimental results. The calculations suggest that the species of catecholamines adsorbed on silver metal surface would be in favor of the gauche conformations.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.80-84
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• 1999

Peroxynitrite is a cytotoxic intermediate produced by the reaction between the superoxide anion radical and nitric oxide. Flavonoids (afzelin, quercitrin and quercetin 3-O-sambubioside), and chlorogenic acid and its methyl ester obtained from leaves of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) have recently been shown to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and to inhibit lipid peroxidation in mouse liver homogenate. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of the above components on peroxynitrite produced stimulated by 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) to produce superoxide anion radical and nitric oxide at the same time. In addition, the present study tests whether or not the components directly scavenge peroxynitrite itself. The results showed that the components with the aromatic ortho-dihydroxyl groups (catechol) were more potent inhibitors of peroxynitrite formation by SIN-1. In particular, the methyl ester form of chlorogenic acid showed the most potent inhibition. At $5\;{\mu}M$ concentration, the order of minimizing peroxynitrite formation were : methyl chlorogenic acid > quercitrin > quercetin 3-O-sambubioside > chlorogenic acid > afzelin. Authentic peroxynitrite was directly scavenged by the components in a manner similar to peroxynitrite formation by SIN-1. In particular, when compared with penicillamine as a positive control, methyl chlorogenate was as effective in inhibiting peroxynitrite formation and approximately 2 times more effective in scavenging an authentic peroxynitrite. These results demonstrate therefore, that components extracted from the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica effectively scavenged peroxynitrite.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.632-640
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• 2006

In this study, the biodegradative activities of monocyclic aromatic compounds were determined from the multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii, which were studied in the form of clinical isolates from a hospital in Korea. These bacteria were capable of biodegrading monocyclic aromatic compounds, such as benzoate and p-hydroxybenzoate. In order to determine which pathways are available for biodegradation in these stains, we conducted proteome analyses of benzoate, and p-hydroxybenzoate-cultured A. baumannii DU202, using 2-DE/MS analysis. As genome DB of A. baumannii was not yet available, MS/MS analysis or de novo sequencing methods were employed in the identification of induced proteins. Benzoate branch enzymes [catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (CatA) and benzoate dioxygenase $\alpha$ subunit (BenA)] of the $\beta$-ketoadipate pathway were identified under benzoate culture condition and p-hydroxybenzoate branch enzymes [protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenas $\alpha$ subunit (PcaG) and 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconate cycloisomerase (PcaR)] of the $\beta$-ketoadipate pathway were identified under p-hydroxybenzoate culture condition, respectively, thereby suggesting that strain DU202 utilized the $\beta$-ketoadipate pathway for the biodegradation of monocyclic aromatic compounds. The sequence analysis of two purified dioxygenases (CatA and PcaGH) indicated that CatA is closely associated with the CatA of Acinetobacter radiresistance, but PcaGH is only moderately associated with the PcaGH of Acinetobacter sp. ADPI. Interestingly, the fused form of PcaD and PcaC, carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase (PcaCD), was detected on benzoate-cultured A. baumannii DU202. These results indicate that A. baumannii DU202 exploits a different $\beta$-ketoadipate pathway from other Acinetobacter species.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.465-470
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• 1997

The human cDNA clone UDPGTh2, encoding a liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), was isolated from a .gamma.gt 11 cDNA library by hybridization to mouse transferase cDNA clone, UDPGTm1. The two clones had 74% nlicleotide sequence identities in the coding region. UDPGTh2 encoded a 529 amino acid protein with an amino terminus membrane-insertion signal peptide and a carboxyl terminus membrane-spanning region. In order to establish substrate specificity, the clone was inserted into the pSVL vector (pUDPGTh2) and expressed in COS 1 cells. Sixty potential substrates were tested using cells transfected with pUDPGTh2. The order of relative substrate activity was as follows: 4-hydroxyestrone > estriol >2-hydroxyestriol > 4-hydroxyestradiol > $6{\alpha}$-hydroxyestradiol >$5{\alpha}$-androstane-$3{\alpha}$, $11{\beta}$, $17{\beta}$-triol=5${\beta}$-androstane-$3{\alpha}$ ${\beta}$, $17{\beta}$-triol. There were only trace amounts of gulcuronidation of 2-hydroxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestrone, and in contrast to other cloned transferase, no gulcuronidation of either the primary estrogens and androgens (estrone, $17{\beta}$estradiol/testosterone, androsterone) or any of the exogenous substrates tested was detected. A lineweaver-Burk plot of the effect of 4-hydroxystrone concentration on the velocity of glucuronidation showed an apparent Km of $13{\mu}M$. The unique specificity of this transferase might play an important role in regulating the level and activity of these potent and active estrogen metabolites.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1669-1678
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• 2011

Six new binuclear copper(II) complexes have been prepared by template condensation of the dialdehydes 1,8-[bis(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-methyl)benzyl]-l,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (PC-a) and 1,8-[bis(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-bromo)benzyl]-l,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (PC-b) with appropriate aliphatic diamines, and copper(II) perchlorate. The structural features of the complexes have been confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis and mass spectra etc. The electrochemical behavior of all the copper(II) complexes show two irreversible one electron reduction process. The room temperature magnetic moment studies depict the presence of an antiferromagnetic interaction in the binuclear complexes. The catechol oxidation and hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenylphosphate were carried out by using the complexes as catalyst. The antimicrobial screening data show good results. The binding of the complexes to calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) has been investigated with absorption and emission spectroscopy. The complex [$Cu_2L^{1a}$] displays significant cleavage property of circular plasmid pBR322 DNA in to linear form. Spectral, electrochemical, magnetic and catalytic studies support the distortion of the copper ion geometry that arises as the macrocyclic ring size increases.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate whether polymorphism of gene encoding COMT is associated with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. Methods: We investigated 136 patients with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis rAFS stage III/IV and 251 control group women who were surgically proven to have no endometriosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products were done to determine each participant's COMT genotype. Results: The distribution according to NIaIII genetic polymorphisms of COMT were as follows. $COMT^{HH}$, $COMT^{HL}$, and $COMT^{LL}$ genotypes were 56.6% (77 women), 34.6% (47 women) and 8.8% (12 women) in the study group and 50.6% (127 women), 39.4% (99 women) and 10.0% (25 women) in the control group. There was no significant difference between the study group and the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that COMT genetic polymorphism may not be associated with the development of endometriosis in Korean women.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1060-1065
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• 2008

A novel benzoyl glucoside (4) and 13 known phenolic compounds were isolated from the leaves of Camellia japonica by a guided 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The structure of 4 was determined to be 4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenol 1-O-$\beta$-D-(6'-O-p-hydroxylbenzoyl)-glucopyranoside (camelliadiphenoside). The 13 known compounds were identified as (E)-coniferyl alcohol (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), 4-hydroxyphenol 1-O-$\beta$-D-(6-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl) glucopyranoside (3), naringenin 7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (5), quercetin 3-O-$\beta$-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1$\rightarrow$6)-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (6), kaempferol 3-O-$\beta$-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1$\rightarrow$6)-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (7), (+)-catechin (8), 1,6-di-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (9), phloretin 2'-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (10), quercetin 3-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (11), quercetin 3-O-$\beta$-D-galactopyranoside (12), kaempferol 3-O-$\beta$-D-galactopyranoside (13), and kaempferol 3-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (14). Their chemical structures were determined by the spectroscopic data of fast atom bondardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Flavonoids having the catechol moiety showed significantly higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than other isolated compounds having monohydroxy phenyl group.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.16-25
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• 2001

A genomic library of biphenyl-degrading strain Comamonas sp. SMN4 was constructed by using the cosmid vector pWE15 and introduced into Escherichia coli. Of 1,000 recombinant clones tested, two clones that expressed 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase activity were found (named pNB 1 and pNB2). From pNB1 clone, subclone pNA210, demonstrated 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase activity, is isolated. 2,3-Dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (23DBDO, BphC) is an extradiol-type dioxygenase that involved in third step of biphenyl degradation pathway. The nucleotide sequence of the Comamonas sp. SMN4 gene bphC, which encodes 23DBDO, was cloned into a plasmid pQE30. The His-tagged 23DBDO produced by a recombinant Escherichia coli, SG 13009 (pREP4)(pNPC), and purified with a Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid resin affinity column using the His-bind Qiagen system. The His-tagged 23DBDO construction was active. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified active 23DBDO gave a single band of 32 kDa; this is in agreement with the size of the bphC coding region. The 23DBDO exhibited maximum activity at pH 9.0. The CD data for the pHs, showed that this enzyme had a typical a-helical folding structures at neutral pHs ranged from pH 4.5 to pH 9.0. This structure maintained up to pH 10.5. However, this high stable folding strucure was converted to unfolded structure in acidic region (pH 2.5) or in high pH (pH 12.0). The result of CD spectra observed with pH effects on 23DBDO activity, suggested that charge transition by pH change have affected change of conformational structure for 23DBDO catalytic reaction. The $K_m$ for 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl, 3-metylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol and catechol was 11.7 $\mu$M, 24 $\mu$M, 50 mM and 625 $\mu$M.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.157-163
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• 2001

Mycolic acid-containing gram-positive bacteria, so called nocardioform actinomycetes, have become a great interest to environmental microbiologists due to their metabolic versatility, multidegradative capacity and potential for bioremediation of priority pollutants. For example, Rhodococcus rhodochrous N75 was able to metabolize 4-methy1catechol via a modified $\beta$-ketoadipate pathway whereby 4-methylmuconolactone methyl isomerase catalyzes the conversion of 4-methylmuconolactone to 3-methylmuconolactone in order to circumvent the accumulation of the 'dead-end' metabolite, 4-methylmuconolactone. R. rhodochrous N75 has also shown the ability to transform a range of alkyl-substituted catechols to the corresponding muconolactones. A novel 3-methylmuconolactone-CoAsynthetase was found to be involved in the degradation of 3-methylmuconolactone, which is not mediated in a manner analogous to the classical $\beta$-ketoadipate pathway but activated by the addition of CoA prior to hydrolysis of lactone ring, suggesting that the degradative pathway for methylaromatic compounds by gram-positive bacteria diverges from that of proteobacteria. Mycobacterium sp. Strain PYR-l isolated from oil-contaminated soil was capable of mineralizing various polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, fluoranthrene, 1-nitropyrene, and 6-nitrochrysene. The pathways for degradation of PAHs by this organism have been elucidated through the isolation and characterization of chemical intermediates. 2-D gel electrophoresis of PAH-induced proteins enabled the cloning of the dioxygenase system containing a dehydrogenase, the dioxygenase small ($\beta$)-subunit, and the dioxygenase large ($\alpha$)-subunit. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the large a subunit did not cluster with most of the known sequences except for three newly described a subunits of dioxygenases from Rhodococcus spp. and Nocardioides spp. 2-D gel analysis also showed that catalase-peroxidase, which was induced with pyrene, plays a role in the PAH metabolism. The survival and performance of these bacteria raised the possibility that they can be excellent candidates for bioremediation purposes.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.397-403
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• 1999

Tyrosinase plays an important role in the process of melanin polymer biosynthesis. Therefore, the enzyme inhibitors have been of great concern as cosmetics to have skin-whitening effects on the local hyperpigmentation. During the search for new inhibitory compounds on melanin polymer biosynthesis from natural sources, MeOH extracts of 589 higher plants were tested for the inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity by the muschroom tyrosinase assay in vitro. Among plants tested, the leaves of Cercis chinensis exhibited potent inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase activity. Subsequently seven active compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble part of acetone extract of the leaves of C. chinensis by the activity guided fractionation monitoring the inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity. Their chemical structures were identified as $kaempferol-3-0-{\alpha}-L-rhamnoside$, quercitrin, $myricetin-3-0-{\alpha}-L-rhamnoside$, myricetin-3-0-(2'-O-galloyl)- ${\alpha}$ -L-rhamopyranoside (desmanthin), (-)-epicatechin-3-0-gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-0-gallate, and methyl gallate on the basis of the speculation of spectral data and chemical reaction. Among the flavonol rhamnosides, myricetin-3-0-(2'-O-galloyl)- -L-rhamnoside(desmanthin) showed most potent inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity and the structure of B-ring in flavonol moiety was related to the activity. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate having pyrogallol group in flavan-3-ol moiety exhibited more potent inhibitory effect than (-)-epicatechin-3-0-gallate having catechol group in flavan-3-ol moiety on mushroom tyrosinase activity.