• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2005

A cumulative evidence indicates that consumption of tea catechin, flavan-3-ol derived from green tea leaves, lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, a precise mechanism for this cardiovascular action has not yet been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of different green tea catechins, such as epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin-3 gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC), on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophy in primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation was used to assess VSMC hypertrophy, protein kinase assay, and western blot analysis were used to assess mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, and RT-PCR was used to assess c-jun or c-fos transcription. Ang II increased [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation into VSMC. However, EGCG and ECG, but not EGC or EC, inhibited [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation increased by Ang II. Ang II increased phosphorylation of c-Jun, extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 MAPK in VSMC, however, EGCG and ECG , but not EGC or EC, attenuated c-Jun phosphorylation increased by Ang II. ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation induced by Ang II were not affected by any catechins. Ang II increased c-jun and c-fos mRNA expression in VSMC, however, EGCG inhibited c-jun but not c-fos mRNA expression induced by Ang II. ECG, EGC and EC did not affect c-jun or c-fos mRNA expression induced by Ang II. Our findings indicate that the galloyl group in the position 3 of the catechin structure of EGCG or ECG is essential for inhibiting VSMC hypertrophy induced by Ang II via the specific inhibition of JNK signaling pathway, which may explain the beneficial effects of green tea catechin on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases observed in several epidemiological studies.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.1-20
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• 1998

Chlorsulfuron, one of sulfonylurea herbicides acts through inhibition of acetolactate syuthase (EC 4.1.3.18; ALS, also known as acetohydroxyacid synthase) in the branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis process. After chlorsulfuron-ALS interaction, many physiological and metabolic disruptions occur in plants. However, it is not clear how this chlorsulfuron-ALS interaction affects those physiological and metabolic processes and how this interaction leads subsequently to plant death. Several researchers suggested that the death of chlorsulfuron-treated plants might be due to a shortage of the branched-chain amino acids, an accumulation of toxic metabolites, and/or a depletion of photoassimilates. It remains as a mystery presently, however, if such changes result in the plant death. In this review, we discussed how the chlorsulfuran-ALS interaction leads to physiological and metabolic disruptions in plants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.484-489
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• 1990

An intracellular inulase ( fJ-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.26) from Bacillus subtilis has been partially purified and its mode of action and general properties were studied. The enzyme had an apparent molecular weight of 49,000 as estimated by gel filtration and its pI point was 5.2. Substrate concentration studies showed an apparent Km of 10 mM for sucrose and of 18 mM for raffinose. The enzyme was an acid-labile protein with a pH optimum of 6.6. The optimum temperature was 50$^{\circ}$C. The enzyme acts on straight chain oligo- and poly-fructosides of the inulin series via a exo-wise cleavage mechanism, as well as on sucrose.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2007

An electrochemical study related to the redox characteristics of Ethyl-3-acetyl-6-methyl-1, 4-diphenyl-4, 3a-dihydro-1, 3, 4-triazolino[3, 4-a] pyrimidine-5-carboxylate ester and its derivatives (1a-f) and (2a-e) in nonaqueous solvents such as 1, 2-dichloroethane (DCE), dichloromethane (DCM), acetonitrile (AN), dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and tetrahydrofurane (THF) using $0.1\;mol\;dm^{-3}$ tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) as a supporting electrolyte at platinum, glassy carbon and gold electrodes, has been performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Controlled potential electrolysis (CPE) is also carried out to elucidate the course of different electrochemical reactions through the separation and identification of the intermediates and final electrolysis products. The redox mechanism is suggested and proved. It was found that all the investigated compounds in all solvents are oxidized in a single irreversible one electron donating process following the well known pattern of the EC-mechanism to give a dimer. On the other hand, these compounds are reduced in a single irreversible one electron step to form the anion radical, which is basic enough to proton from the media forming the radical which undergoes tautomerization and then dimerization processes to give also another bis-compound through N-N linkage formation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2002

Two aspartate aminoransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) isoenzymes (AAT-1 and AAT-2) from Lupinus albus L. cv Estoril were separated, purified, and characterized. The molecular weight, pI value, optimum pH, optimum temperature, and thermodynamic parameters for thermal inactivation of both isoenzymes were obtained. Studies of the kinetic mechanism, and the kinetics of product inhibition and high substrate concentration inhibition, were performed. The effect of some divalent ions and irreversible inhibitors on both AAT isoenzymes was also studied. Native PAGE showed a higher molecular weight for AAT-2 compared with AAT-1. AAT-1 appears to be more anionic than AAT-2, which was suggested by the anion exchange chromatography. SDS-PAGE showed a similar sub-unit molecular weight for both isoenzymes. The optimum pH (between 8,0 and 9.0) and temperature ($60-65^{\circ}C$) were similar for both isoenzymes. In the temperature range of $45-65^{\circ}C$, AAT-2 has higher thermostability than AAT-1. Both isoenzymes showed a high affinity for keto-acid substrates, as well as a higher affinity to aspartate than glutamate. Manganese ions induced an increase in both AAT isoenzymes activities, but no cooperative effect was detected. Among the inhibitors tested, hydroxylamine affected both isoenzymes activity by an irreversible inhibition mechanism.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2019

A typical wear pattern was reported to resemble the fatigue crack growth behavior considering its mechanism, especially for amorphous rubbers such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). In this study, the wear and crack growth rates were correlated using two separate experiments for carbon black and silica-reinforced selected rubber compounds. The wear rate was determined using a blade-type abrasion tester, where the frictional energy input during wearing was measured. The crack propagation rate was determined under different tearing energy inputs using a home-made fatigue tester, with a pure-shear test specimen containing pre-cracks. The rates of abrasion and crack propagation were plotted on a log-log scale as a function of frictional and tearing energies, respectively. Reasonable agreement was observed, indicating that the major mechanism of the abrasion pattern involved repeated crack propagation.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.260-265
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• 2019

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) (EC 1.1.1.1) was selected as the enzyme which will be immobilized on ultrafiltration membrane by fouling with different transmembrane pressure of 1, 2 and 3 bars. ADH will catalyze formaldehyde (CHOH) to methanol ($CH_3OH$) and simultaneously oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to $NAD^+$. The concentration of enzyme and pH are fixed at 0.1 mg/ml and pH 7.0 respectively. The objective of the study focuses on the effect of different transmembrane pressure (TMP) on enzyme immobilization in term of permeate flux, observed rejection, enzyme loading and fouling mechanism. The results showed that at 1 bar holds the lowest enzyme loading which is 1.085 mg while 2 bar holds the highest enzyme loading which is 1.357 mg out of 3.0 mg as the initial enzyme feed. The permeate flux for each TMP decreased with increasing cumulative permeate volume. The observed rejection is linearly correlated with the TMP where increase in TMP will cause a higher observed rejection. Hermia model predicted that at irreversible fouling with standard blocking dominates at TMP of 3 bar, while cake layer and intermediate blocking dominates at 1 and 2 bar respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.5
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• pp.693-707
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• 2023

In order to deeply reveal the working mechanism of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) filled steel tubular columns (UHPCFSTs) under cyclic loading, a three-dimension (3D) macro-mesoscale finite element (FE) model was established considering the randomness of steel fibers and the damage of UHPC. Model correctness and reliability were verified based on the experimental results. Next, the whole failure process of UHPC reinforced with steel fibers, passive confinement effect and internal force distribution laws were comprehensively analyzed and discussed. Finally, a simplified and practical method was proposed for predicting the ultimate bending strengths of UHPCFSTs. It was found that the non-uniform confinement effect of steel tube occurred when the drift ratio exceeded 0.5%, while the confining stress increased then decreased afterwards. There was preferable synergy between the steel tube and UHPC until failure. Compared with experimental results, the ultimate bending strengths of UHPCFSTs were undervalued by the current code provisions such as AISC360-10, EC4 and GB50936 with computed mean values (MVs) of 0.855, 0.880 and 0.836, respectively. The proposed practical method was highly accurate, as evidenced by a mean value of 1.058.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.210-219
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• 2004

Extracellular $K^{+}$ concentration ([ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ ) can be increased within several mM by the efflux of intracellular $K^{+}$. To investigate the effect of an increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ on vascular contractility, we attempted to examine whether extracellular $K^{+}$ might modulate vascular contractility, endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) and intracellular $Ca^2$$^{+}$ concentration ([C $a^2$$^{+}$]$_{i}$ ) in endothelial cells (EC). We observed isometric contractions in rabbit carotid, superior mesenteric, basilar arteries and movse aorta. [C $a^2$$^{+}$]$_{i}$ was recorded by microfluorimeter using Fura-2/AM in EC. No change in contractility was recorded by the increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ from 6 to 12 mM in conduit artery such as rabbit carotid artery. whereas resistant vessels, such as basilar and branches of superior mesenteric arteries (SMA), were relaxed by the increase. In basilar artery, the relaxation by the increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ to from 1 to 3 mM was bigger than that by the increase from 6 to 12 mM. In contrast, in branches of SMA, the relaxation by the increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ to from 6 to 12 mM is bigger than that by the increase from 1 to 3 mM. $Ba^2$$^{+}$ (30 $\mu$M) did not inhibit the relaxation by the increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ from 1 to 3 mM but did inhibit the relaxation by the increase from 6 to 12 mM. In the mouse aorta without the endothelium or treated with $N^{G}$_nitro-L-arginine (30 $\mu$M), nitric oxide synthesis blocker, the increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ from 6 to 12 mM did not change the magnitude of contraction induced either norepinephrine or prostaglandin $F_2$$_{\alpha}$. The increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ up to 12 mM did not induce contraction of mouse aorta but the increase more than 12 mM induced contraction. In the mouse aorta, EDR was completely inhibited on increasing [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ from 6 to 12 mM. In cultured mouse aorta EC, [C $a^2$$^{+}$]$_{i}$ , was increased by acetylcholine or ATP application and the increased [C $a^2$$^{+}$]$_{i}$ , was reduced by the increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ reversibly and concentration-dependently. In human umbilical vein EC, similar effect of extracellular $K^{+}$ was observed. Ouabain, a N $a^{+}$ - $K^{+}$ pump blocker, and N $i^2$$^{+}$, a N $a^{+}$ - $Ca^2$$^{+}$ exchanger blocker, reversed the inhibitory effect of extracellular $K^{+}$. In resistant arteries, the increase in [ $K^{+}$]$_{0}$ relaxes vascular smooth muscle and the underlying mechanisms differ according to the kinds of the arteries; $Ba^2$$^{+}$-insensitive mechanism in basilar artery and $Ba^2$$^{+}$ -sensitive one in branches of SMA. It also inhibits [C $a^2$$^{+}$]$_{i}$ , increase in EC and thereby EDR. The initial mechanism of the inhibition may be due to the activation of N $a^{+}$ - $K^{+}$pump. activation of N $a^{+}$ - $K^{+}$pump.p.p.p.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 1997

The present paper reports characteristics and specificity of the inhibitory action of $N^{\alpha}-tosyl-L-lysine-chloromethyl\;ketone$ (TLCK) and $N^{\alpha}-tosyl-L-phenylalanine-chloromethyl\;ketone$ (TPCK) on the glucose6-phosphate transporter of rat liver microsomes. The TLCK-induced inhibition was pH dependent. The inhibition constants for TPCK were determined by following pseudo-Lst order reaction mechanism. The inhibition was protected by preincubation with excess amount of glucose-6-phosphate. The results proved that (a) TLCK inactivates the microsomal glucose-6-phosphate transporter, (b) the inhibition results from the modification of sulfhydryl groups of the transporter.