• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2013

Objective: Pyungwi-san (PWS) plays a role in a number of physiologic and pharmacologic functions in many organs. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that generate slow waves in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of PWS in mouse small-intestinal ICCs. Methods: Enzymatic digestion was used to dissociate ICCs from the small intestine of a mouse. The whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record membrane potentials from the cultured ICCs. Results: ICCs generated pacemaker potentials in the GI tract. PWS produced membrane depolarization in the current clamp mode. Pretreatment with a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution and a thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase, inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, eliminated the generation of pacemaker potentials. However, only when the thapsigargin was applied in a bath solution, the membrane depolarization was not produced by PWS. Furthermore, the membrane depolarizations due to PWS were inhibited not by U-73122, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, but by chelerythrine and calphostin C, protein kinase C inhibitors. Conclusions: These results suggest that PWS might affect GI motility by modulating the pacemaker activity in the ICCs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.311-316
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• 2010

It is well-known that electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contraction is mediated by a cholinergic mechanism and other neurotransmitters. NO, ATP, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and substance P are released by EFS. To investigate the purinergic mechanism involved in the EFS-induced contraction, purinegic receptors antagonists were used. Suramine, a non-selective P2 receptor antagonist, reduced the contraction induced by EFS. NF023 ($10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M$), a selective P2X antagonist, inhibited the contraction evoked by EFS. Reactive blue ($10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-4}M$), selective P2Y antagonist, also blocked the contraction in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, P2X agonist ${\alpha}$,${\beta}$-methylene 5'-adenosine triphosphate (${\alpha}{\beta}MeATP$, $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}M$) potentiated EFS-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner. P2Y agonist adenosine 5'-[${\beta}$-thio]diphosphate trilithium salt ($ADP{\beta}S$, $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}M$) also potentiated EFS-induced contractions in a dose-dependent manner. Ecto-ATPase activator apyrase (5 and 10 U/ml) reduced EFS-induced contractions. Inversely, 6-N,$N$-diethyl-D-${\beta}$,${\gamma}$- dibromomethylene 5'-triphosphate triammonium (ARL 67156, $10^{-4}M$) increased EFS-induced contraction. These data suggest that endogenous ATP plays a role in EFS-induced contractions which are mediated through both P2X-receptors and P2Y-receptors stimulation in cat esophageal smooth muscle.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.468-474
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• 1993

A dehydrating sheet comprises polymeric water absorber. which are packed in a semipermeable cellophane film bag allowing selective permeation of water. This sheet dehydration is quite different from conventional drying method such as sun drying, hot-air blast drying and cold air blast drying in a sense that samples are dried without heat treatment. As a part of the studies to develope a new processing method for effective utilization of dark muscle fishes, the preparation of a good quality salted and semi-dried mackerel by the dehydrating sheet was attempted. The dehydration time for preparation of a salted and semi-dried mackerels containing approximately equal moisture content were revealed $180{\sim}510min$ in conventional drying method and $90{\sim}160min$ in this sheet dehydration, respectively. The moisture and histamine contents of those salted and semi-dried mackerels were $59.4{\sim}62.4%$ and $2.5{\sim}3.6 mg/100g$, respectively. The changes in peroxide value, fatty acid composition, brown pigment formation, myofibrillar protein solubility and Ca-ATPase activity during processing of the salted and semi-dried mackerel prepared by the sheet dehydration were more lower than those of products prepared by conventional drying methods. Therefore, these result showed that the quality of a salted and semi-dried mackerel prepared by the sheet dehydration was imperial to that of those products by conventional drying method.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.107-123
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• 1993

To define the effects of various levels $(0\~1.5\%)$ of dietary n-3HUFA on the physiological changes in the Korean rockfish, variations in blood variables and hepatocytes were studied. Biochemical serum analyses, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of the liver cytosol and ATPase activity of the liver microsomal membrane were also studied. The haematological values (red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCHC, MCV and MCH) were not significantly different in the experimental groups $(P\geq0.05)$. The total protein and glucose levels in the serum were affected by dietary n-3HUFA levels. These levels in groups fed n-3HUFA insufficient diets were significantly lower than those of n-3HUFA sufficient groups (P<0.05). Serum levels of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetatic transaminase (GOT) showed significantly higher values in the fish fed n-3HUFA deficient diets (P<0.05). The LDH in the serum was dropped with increasing dietary n-3HUFA levels, but the LDH activity of the liver cytosol was elevated. Histologically, the hepatic cell in the fish fed n-3HUFA free diet was abnormal and showed a necrotic condition. $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ activities of the liver microsomal membrane were significantly lower in the fish fed n-3HUFA deficient diets than in those fed n-3HUFA sufficient diets (p<0.005). These results suggested that the liver cell membrane was affected by dietary fatty acid compositions and cell membrane of the fish fed n-3HUFA insufficient diets showed abnormalities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.915-926
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• 2014

The ribosome is a protein synthesizing machinery and a ribonucleoprotein complex that consists of three ribosomal RNAs (23S, 16S and 5S) and 54 ribosomal proteins in bacteria. In the course of ribosome assembly, ribosomal proteins (r-protein) and rRNAs are modified, the r-proteins bind to rRNAs to form ribonucleoprotein complexes which are folded into mature ribosomal subunits. In this process, a number of non-ribosomal trans-acting factors organize the assembly process of the components. Those factors include GTP- and ATP-binding proteins, rRNA and r-protein modification enzymes, chaperones, and RNA helicases. During ribosome biogenesis, they participate in the modifications of ribosomal proteins and RNAs, and the assemblies of ribosomal proteins with rRNAs. Ribosomes can be assembled from a discrete set of components in vitro, and it is notable that in vivo ribosome assembly is much faster than in vitro ribosome assembly. This suggests that non-ribosomal ribosome assembly factors help to overcome several kinetic traps in ribosome biogenesis process. In spite of accumulation of genetic, structural, and biochemical data, not only the entire procedure of bacterial ribosome synthesis but also most of roles of ribosome assembly factors remain elusive. Here, we review ribosome assembly factors involved in the ribosome maturation of Escherichia coli, and summarize the contributions of several ribosome assembly factors which associate with 50S and 30S ribosomal subunits, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5605-5611
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• 2012

Background: In the last two decades, pioneering research on anti-tumour activity of saffron has shed light on the role of crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal, as broad spectrum anti-neoplastic agents. However, the exact mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Identification and characterization of the targets of bioactive constituents will play an imperative role in demystifying the complex anti-neoplastic machinery. Methods: In the quest of potential target identification, a dual virtual screening approach utilizing two inverse screening systems, one predicated on idTarget and the other on PharmMapper was here employed. A set of target proteins associated with multiple forms of cancer and ranked by Fit Score and Binding energy were obtained from the two independent inverse screening platforms. The validity of the results was checked by meticulously analyzing the post-docking binding pose of the picrocrocin with Hsp90 alpha in AutoDock. Results: The docking pose reveals that electrostatic and hydrogen bonds play the key role in inter-molecular interactions in ligand binding. Picrocrocin binds to the Hsp90 alpha with a definite orientation appropriate for nucleophilic attacks by several electrical residues inside the Hsp90-alpha ATPase catalytic site. Conclusion: This study reveals functional information about the anti-tumor mechanism of saffron bioactive constituents. Also, a tractable set of anti-neoplastic targets for saffron has been generated in this study which can be further authenticated by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2013

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells in the gastrointestinal tract, and histamine is known to regulate neuronal activity, control vascular tone, alter endothelial permeability, and modulate gastric acid secretion. However, the action mechanisms of histamine in mouse small intestinal ICCs have not been previously investigated, and thus, in the present study, we investigated the effects of histamine on mouse small intestinal ICCs, and sought to identify the receptors involved. Enzymatic digestions were used to dissociate ICCs from small intestines, and the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record potentials (in current clamp mode) from cultured ICCs. Histamine was found to depolarize resting membrane potentials concentration dependently, and whereas 2-PEA (a selective H1 receptor agonist) induced membrane depolarizations, Dimaprit (a selective H2-agonist), R-alpha-methylhistamine (R-alpha-MeHa; a selective H3-agonist), and 4-methylhistamine (4-MH; a selective H4-agonist) did not. Pretreatment with $Ca^{2+}$-free solution or thapsigargin (a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in endoplasmic reticulum) abolished the generation of pacemaker potentials and suppressed histamine-induced membrane depolarization. Furthermore, treatments with U-73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor) or 5-fluoro-2-indolyl des-chlorohalopemide (FIPI; a phospholipase D inhibitor) blocked histamine-induced membrane depolarizations in ICCs. On the other hand, KT5720 (a protein kinase A inhibitor) did not block histamine-induced membrane depolarization. These results suggest that histamine modulates pacemaker potentials through H1 receptor-mediated pathways via external $Ca^{2+}$ influx and $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal stores in a PLC and PLD dependent manner.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.742-753
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• 2012

Copper-containing compounds are introduced into the environment through agricultural chemicals, mining, and metal industries and cause severe detrimental effects on ecosystems. Certain microorganisms exposed to these stressors exhibit molecular mechanisms to maintain intracellular copper homeostasis and avoid toxicity. We have previously reported that the soil bacterial isolate Achromobacter sp. AO22 is multi-heavy metal tolerant and exhibits a mer operon associated with a Tn21 type transposon. The present study reports that AO22 also hosts a unique cop locus encoding copper homeostasis determinants. The putative cop genes were amplified from the strain AO22 using degenerate primers based on reported cop and pco sequences, and a constructed 10,552 base pair contig (GenBank Accession No. GU929214). BLAST analyses of the sequence revealed a unique cop locus of 10 complete open reading frames, designated copSRABGOFCDK, with unusual separation of copCD from copAB. The promoter areas exhibit two putative cop boxes, and copRS appear to be transcribed divergently from other genes. The putative protein CopA may be a copper oxidase involved in export to the periplasm, CopB is likely extracytoplasmic, CopC may be periplasmic, CopD is cytoplasmic/inner membrane, CopF is a P-type ATPase, and CopG, CopO, and CopK are likely copper chaperones. CopA, B, C, and D exhibit several potential copper ligands and CopS and CopR exhibit features of two-component regulatory systems. Sequences flanking indicate the AO22 cop locus may be present within a genomic island. Achromobacter sp. strain AO22 is thus an ideal candidate for understanding copper homeostasis mechanisms and exploiting them for copper biosensor or biosorption systems.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2020

Obejectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Yijin-tang on pacemaker potentials of small intestinal interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC). Methods : To dissociate the ICC, we used enzymatic digestions from the small intestine in mice. The electrophysiological whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in the cultured ICC and the in vivo effects of Yijin-tang on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR). Results : 1. The ICC generated pacemaker potentials in the murine small intestine. Yijin-tang produced membrane depolarization with concentration-dependent manners in the current clamp mode. 2. Pretreatment with a Ca²⁺ free solution and thapsigargin, a Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, stopped the pacemaker potentials. In the case of Ca²⁺-free solutions and thapsigargin, Yijin-tang did not induce membrane potential depolarizations. 3. U73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors, blocked the Yijin-tang-induced membrane potential depolarizations. However, U73343, an inactive PLC inhibitors, did not block. 4. In the presence of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, staurosporine or Rottlerin, Yijin-tang depolarized the pacemaker potentials. However, in the presence of Go6976, Yijin-tang did not depolarize the pacemaker potentials. 5. In mice, intestinal transit rate (ITR) values were significantly and dose-dependently increased by the intragastric administration of Yijin-tang. Conclusions : These results suggest that Yijin-tang can modulate the pacemaker activity of ICC through an internal/external Ca²⁺ and PLC/PKC-dependent pathway in ICC. In addition, Yijin-tang is a good candidate for the development of a prokinetic agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1194-1201
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• 2008

Water temperature-dependent fluctuations of biochemical and molecular activities in the harmful dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides were studied. In terms of genomic DNA concentration, a similar value of 0.6 was observed at $12^{\circ}C$ and $15^{\circ}C$. However, DNA significantly increased beyond $18^{\circ}C$ (p<0.05), to a maximum of 1.8 at $24^{\circ}C$. DNA concentration significantly decreased to 0.6. The concentrations of RNA and total protein were likely at their highest values of 1.7 and 0.07 ${\mu}g$ $ml^{-1}$ at $24^{\circ}C$, respectively. RNA and total protein concentrations began to increase at $15^{\circ}C$. Oxygen availability between lower and higher temperatures was significantly different and increased from $18^{\circ}C$ according to light intensity, regardless of wavelengths (p<0.05). At $24^{\circ}C$, the highest value of the maximum electron transport rate ($ETR_{max}$), ranging from 537.9 (Ch 1) to 602.5 ${\mu}mol$ electrons $g^{-1}$ Chl ${\alpha}s^{-1}$ (Ch 4), was also apparent. Nitrate reductase (NR) and ATPase activities were at their highest values of 0.11 ${\mu}mol$ $NO_{2}^{-}$ ${\mu}g^{-1}$ Chl ${\alpha}h^{-1}$ and 0.78 pmol 100 $mg^{-1}$ at $24^{\circ}C$, respectively. In an analysis of CHN, the concentration of C and N also significantly increased (p<0.05). Most of the measurements for the cellular activities at $27^{\circ}C$, however, were less than at $24^{\circ}C$. These results suggest that the sub-cellular activities of C. polykrikoides are sensitive to changes in water temperature. It may be desirable to estimate at $18^{\circ}C$ the initiation of the massive blooming development of C. polykrikoides. In nature, it will be very difficult to maintain the massive blooms beyond $24^{\circ}C$ because of a possibly significant decrease in molecular activity of C. polykrikoides.