• BMB Reports
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2016

Salsolinol (SAL), a compound derived from dopamine metabolism, is the most probable neurotoxin involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we investigated the modification and inactivation of human ceruloplasmin (hCP) induced by SAL. Incubation of hCP with SAL increased the protein aggregation and enzyme inactivation in a dose-dependent manner. Reactive oxygen species scavengers and copper chelators inhibited the SAL-mediated hCP modification and inactivation. The formation of dityrosine was detected in SAL-mediated hCP aggregates. Amino acid analysis post the exposure of hCP to SAL revealed that aspartate, histidine, lysine, threonine and tyrosine residues were particularly sensitive. Since hCP is a major copper transport protein, oxidative damage of hCP by SAL may induce perturbation of the copper transport system, which subsequently leads to deleterious conditions in cells. This study of the mechanism by which ceruloplasmin is modified by salsolinol may provide an explanation for the deterioration of organs under neurodegenerative disorders such as PD. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 45-50]

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was undertaken to identify fibrinolytic proteases from Gloydius blomhoffii siniticus venom and to characterize a major fibrinolytic protease purified from the venom. Methods : The venom was subjected to chromatography using columns of Q-Sepharose and Sephadex G-75. The molecular weights of fibrinolytic proteases showing fibrinolytic zone in fibrin plate assay were determined in SDS-PAGE (Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) The effects of inhibitors and metal ions on fibrinolytic protease and the proteolysis patterns of fibrinogen, gelatin, and bovine serum albumin were investigated. Results : 1) The fibrinolytic fractions of the three peaks isolated from Gloydius blomhoffii siniticus venom contained two polypeptides of 46 and 59 kDa and three polypeptides of 32, 18, and 15 kDa and a major polypeptide of 54 kDa, respectively. 2) The fibrinolytic activity of the purified protease of 54 kDA was inhibited by metal chelators, such as EDTA, EGTA, and 1,10-phenanthroline, and disulfhydryl-reducing compounds, such as dithiothreitol and cysteine. 3) Calcium chloride promoted the fibrinolytic activity of the protease, but mercuric chloride and cobalt(II) chloride inhibited it. 4) The fibrinolytic protease cleaved preferentially A${\alpha}$-chain and slowly B${\beta}$-chain of fibrinogen. It also hydrolyzed gelatin but not bovine serum albumin. Conclusions : The Gloydius blomhoffii siniticus venom contained more than three fibrinolytic proteases. The major fibrinolytic protease was a metalloprotease which hydrolyzed both fibrinogen and gelatin, but not bovine serum albumin.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.54-61
• /
• 2005

In this study, we attempted to determine the effects of iron-availability and the activity of the bacterial iron-uptake system (IUS) on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in human peritoneal dialysate (HPD) solution. A streptonigrin-resistant S. aureus (SRSA) strain, isolated from S. aureus ATCC 6538, exhibited defective siderophore production, thereby resulting in ineffective uptake of iron from low iron-saturated transferrin. The growth of both strains was stimulated in HPD solution supplemented with FeCl_3 and holotransferrin, but growth was inhibited in HPD solution which had been supplemented with apotransferrin and dipyridyl. The SRSA strain grew less robustly than did its parental strain in both iron-supplemented HPD solution and regular HPD solution. These results indicate that iron-availability and siderophore-mediated IUS activity in particular, the ability to produce siderophores and thus capture iron from low iron-saturated transferrin play critical roles in the growth of S. aureus in HPD solution. Our results also indicated that the possibility of using iron chelators as therapeutic or preventive agents warrants further evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.1454-1464
• /
• 2005

The study was based on a three-stage, non-repetitive factorial experiment in which chemical-rotted kenaf fibers were treated separately with hydrogen peroxide concentrations of $0.5\%,\;1\%\;and\;2\%$, with pH solutions of 7, 9 and 11, and treatment times of 30, 60 and 90 minutes. Under optimal conditions, the study was conducted to determine the strength and elongation of kenaf fibers by the addition of chelators, penetrants and surfactants. The hydrogen peroxide concentration, solution pH and treatment time directly affected the strength of kenaf fibers. The hydrogen peroxide concentration, solution pH affected the elongation of kenaf fibers. It was found, however, that the interaction between pH and treatment time, concentration and treatment time, concentration and treatment time and pH affected the strength of kenaf fibers. Also, It was found that the interaction between pH and concentration, concentration and treatment time, concentration and treatment time and pH affected the elongation of kenaf fibers. Under the hydrogen peroxide conditions of $2\%$ concentration, pH 11 and a treatment time of 60 minutes, there were no effects on the strength and elongation of kenaf fibers with the addition of chelator SP, CA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.297-302
• /
• 2006

Melittin, a major component of bee venom, produces a sustained decrease in mechanical threshold, and an increase in spontaneous flinchings and paw thickness, which are characteristics similar to those induced by whole bee venom. Melittin-induced nociception has been known to be modulated by the changes in the activity of excitatory amino acid receptors, voltage-dependent calcium channels, cyclooxygenase and serotonin receptors. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of calcium chelators (TMB-8 & Quin 2) in melittin-induced nociceptive responses. Changes of mechanical threshold and spontaneous flinching behaviors were measured at a given time point following intraplantar injection of melittin ($30{\mu}g/paw$). Intrathecal or intraplantar pre-administration and intrathecal posttreatment of TMB-8 and Quin 2 significantly prevented the melittin-induced reduction of mechanical threshold, and intraplantar or intrathecal pre-treatment of TMB-8 and Quin 2 suppressed melittininduced flinching behaviors. These results indicate that calcium ion in the spinal dorsal horn neurons and peripheral nerves plays an important role in the production and maintenance of mechanical allodynia and spontaneous pain by melittin.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.117-121
• /
• 2021

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is a common complication of CKD, often accompanied by extra-skeletal calcification in adult patients. As increased vascular calcification is predicted to increase cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, the revised Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines recommend avoiding calcium-containing phosphate chelators. However, extra-skeletal calcification is less commonly noticed in pediatric patients. Here, we report our experience of such a complication in pediatric patients receiving maintenance peritoneal dialysis. Extra-skeletal calcification was noticed at the corneas, pelvic cavity, and soft tissues of the lower leg in 4 out of 32 patients on maintenance peritoneal dialysis. These patients experienced the aggravation of extra-skeletal calcifications during peritoneal dialysis, and 2 of them underwent excisional operations. It is required to monitor extra-skeletal calcifications in children on kidney replacement therapy.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 1999

A red tide organism, Amphidinium carterae was incubated under different iron/chelator and nitrate concentrations to investigate the factors controlling the growth. The chelation capacity played a critical role in regulating the nitrate reductase (NR) activity and in vivo fluorescence of this organism. However, there was a significant difference between the NR activity and in vivo fluorescence in response to trace metals and chelator treatments. In vivo fluorescence was the highest in FeEDTA 10 ${\mu}$M treatments and the lowest in DTPA 10 ${\mu}$M treatments. This indicates that the availability of the trace metal is important in regulating the in vivo fluorescence of this photosynthetic microalgae In contrast, NR activity showed the highest values in trace metal enriched treatments, and trace metal + DTPA treatments showed fairly high NR activities. This suggests that DTPA treatment did not hinder the NR activity as much as it did in vivo fluorescence. In vivo fluorescence and NR activity increased with nitrate concentration of up to 50 ${\mu}$M and remained relatively constant or the rate of increase decreased above that concentration, indicating that initial nitrate concentration of higher than a certain level would not accelerate the growth of A. carterae. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the reason for the difference in timing sequence between the NR and in vivo fluorescence in response to different metal treatments and chelation capacity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.190-199
• /
• 2002

Objective : This study was performed to determine if Scutellaria balicalensis Georgi extract (SbGE) prevents oxidant-induced membrane transport dysfunction in renal tubular cells. Methods : Membrane transport function was estimated by measuring $Na^+$-dependent inorganic phosphate transport in opossum kidney (OK) cells. $H_2O_2$ inhibited phosphate transport in a dose-dependent manner. Results : The inhibitory effect of $H_2O_2$ was significantly prevented SbGE over concentration range of 0.005-0.05%. $H_2O_2$ caused ATP depletion, which was prevented by SbGE. $H_2O_2$ induced the loss of mitochondrial function as evidenced by decreased MTT reduction and its effect was prevented by SbGE. The $H_2O_2$-induced inhibition of phosphate transport was not affected by a potent antioxidant DPPD, but the inhibition was prevented by an iron chelator deferoxamine, suggesting that $H_2O_2$ inhibits $Na^+$-dependent phosphate transport via an iron-dependent nonperoxidative mechanism in renal tubular cells. Conclusion : These data suggest that SbGE may exert the protective effect against oxidant-induced membrane transport dysfunction by a mechanism similar to iron chelators in renal epithelial cells. However, furher studies should be carried out to find the active ingredient(s) of SbGE that exerts the protective effect.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.3 no.6
• /
• pp.631-640
• /
• 1999

The present study investigated the stimulatory effects of iron (or ascorbate) on cyclosporine-induced kidney mitochondrial damage. Damaging effect of $50\;{\mu}M$ cyclosporine plus $20\;{\mu}M\;Fe^{2+}$ on mitochondrial lipids and proteins of rat kidney and hyaluronic acid was greater than the summation of oxidizing action of each compound alone, except sulfhydryl oxidation. Cyclosporine and $100\;{\mu}M$ ascorbate showed an enhanced damaging effect on lipids but not on proteins. The peroxidative action of cyclosporine on lipids was enhanced with increasing concentrations of $Fe^{2+}.$ Ferric ion $(20\;{\mu}M)$ also interacted with cyclosporine to stimulate lipid peroxidation. Damaging action of cyclosporine on mitochondrial lipids was enhanced by ascorbate $(100\;{\mu}M\;and\;1\;mM)$. Iron chelators, DTPA and EDTA, attenuated carbonyl formation induced by cyclosporine plus ascorbate. Cyclosporine $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and $50\;{\mu}M\;Fe^{2+}$ $(or\;100\;{\mu}M\;ascorbate)$ synergistically stimulated degradation of $2-{\alpha}$ deoxyribose. Cyclosporine $(1\;to\;100\;{\mu}M)$ reduced ferric ion in a dose dependent manner, which is much less than ascorbate action. Addition of $Fe^{2+}$ caused a change in absorbance spectrum of cyclosporine in $230{\sim}350$ nm of wavelengths. The results show that cyclosporine plus iron (or ascorbate) exerts an enhanced damaging effect on kidney mitochondria. Iron and ascorbate appear to promote the nephrotoxicity induced by cyclosporine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.1357-1363
• /
• 2008

The $P_{entC}$ promoter of the entCERA operon encoding enzymes for enterobactin biosynthesis in Escherichia coli is tightly regulated by the availability of iron in the culture medium. In iron-rich conditions, the $P_{entC}$ promoter activity is strongly repressed by the global transcription regulator Fur (ferric uptake regulator), which complexes with ferrous ions and binds to the Fur box 19-bp inverted repeat. In this study, we have constructed the expression vector pOS2 containing the $P_{entC}$ promoter and characterized its repression, induction, and modulation by quantifying the expression of the lacZ reporter gene encoding $\beta$-galactosidase. $\beta$-Galactosidase activities of E. coli transformants harboring pOS2-lacZ were highly induced in the presence of divalent metal ion chelators such as 2,2'-dipyridyl and EDTA, and were strongly repressed in the presence of excess iron. It was also shown that the basal level $\beta$-galactosidase expression by the $P_{entC}$ promoter was drastically decreased by incorporating the fur gene into the expression vector. Since the newly developed iron chelator-inducible expression system is efficient and cost-effective, it has wide applications in recombinant protein production.