• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.341-348
• /
• 2003

Mechanical stimuli to the cardiac myocytes initiate many biochemical and physiological events. Stretch-activated cation channels have been suggested to mediate these events. In this study, cell-attached and inside-out excised-patch clamp methods were used to identify stretch-activated cation channels in adult rat atrial myocytes. Channel openings were increased in cell-attached configuration when negative pressure was applied to the pipette, and also in inside-out excised patches by negative pressure. The channel was not permeable to $Cl^-$, $Na^+$ and $Cs^+$, but selectively permeable to $K^+$, and the degree of activation was dependent on the magnitude of negative pressure (full activation at ${\sim} -50 mmHg). In symmetrical 140 mM KCl, the slope conductance was $51.2{\pm}3$ pS between the potentials of -80 and 0 mV and $55{\pm}6$ pS between 0 and +80 mV (n=5). Glibenclamide ($100{mu}M$) or ATP (2 mM) failed to block the channel openings, indicating that it is not ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel. Arachidonic acid ($30{mu}M$), which has been shown to activate a $K^+$ channel cooperatively with membrane stretch, did not affect the channel activity. $GdCl_3$ ($100{mu}M$) also did not alter the activity. These results demonstrate that the mechanical stretch in rat atrial myocytes activates a novel $K^+$-selective cation channel, which is not associated with other $K^+$ channels such as ATP-sensitive and arachidonic acid-activated $K^+$ channel.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.145-149
• /
• 2000

Methyl mercaptan oxidase was isolated and purified from Thiobacillus thiooxidans KCTC2505 for the detection of mercaptans. T The produre of purification involved DEAE-Sephacel and Superose 12 column chromatographies with recovery yields of 40 a and 6.3%, and specific activity of 19.7 and 80.1 units/mg-protein, respectively. The molecular weight of purified methyl m mercaptan oxidase was determined to be 68.1 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The extract from DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography h had a high activity in oxidizing methyl mercaptan to produce formaldehyde which can be easily detected by purpald-coloring m method. Optimum temperature for activity was observed at $43^{\circ}C$. This enzyme was activated by $NH_4CI and (NH_4)_2S0_4$, and | inhibited by KCI and NaC!.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2014

The downregulation of A-type $K^+$ channels ($I_A$ channels) accompanying enhanced somatic excitability can mediate epileptogenic conditions in mammalian central nervous system. As $I_A$ channels are dominantly targeted by dendritic and postsynaptic processings during synaptic plasticity, it is presumable that they may act as cellular linkers between synaptic responses and somatic processings under various excitable conditions. In the present study, we electrophysiologically tested if the downregulation of somatic $I_A$ channels was sensitive to synaptic activities in young hippocampal neurons. In primarily cultured hippocampal neurons (DIV 6~9), the peak of $I_A$ recorded by a whole-cell patch was significantly reduced by high KCl or exogenous glutamate treatment to enhance synaptic activities. However, the pretreatment of MK801 to block synaptic NMDA receptors abolished the glutamate-induced reduction of the $I_A$ peak, indicating the necessity of synaptic activation for the reduction of somatic $I_A$. This was again confirmed by glycine treatment, showing a significant reduction of the somatic $I_A$ peak. Additionally, the gating property of $I_A$ channels was also sensitive to the activation of synaptic NMDA receptors, showing the hyperpolarizing shift in inactivation kinetics. These results suggest that synaptic LTP possibly potentiates somatic excitability via downregulating $I_A$ channels in expression and gating kinetics. The consequential changes of somatic excitability following the activity-dependent modulation of synaptic responses may be a series of processings for neuronal functions to determine outputs in memory mechanisms or pathogenic conditions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.335-343
• /
• 1994

The Eonyang amethyst deposits are composed of vug quartz emplaced in the Eonyang granites of Mesozoic Cretaceous age. The Eonyang granites are composed of biotite granite, porphyritic biotite granite, aplite and miarolitic granite. The petrochemical data of the Eonyang granites show the trend of subalkaline magma, calc-alkaline magma, I-type granitoid and magnetite series. The vug quartz show the characteristic growth zoning (white quartz-smoky quartz-amethyst) from wall side. Generally fluid inclusions in the vug quartz can be divided into four main types based on compositions (I-type: gas inclusion, II-type: liquid inclusion, III-type: polyphase inclusion, IV-type: liquid $CO_2$-bearing inclusion). Solid phase of polyphase inclusions are halite(NaCl), sylvite(KCl), hematite ($Fe_2O_3$) and unknown anisotropic solid. Homogenization temperatures inferred from the fluid inclusion study ranges from $440^{\circ}C$ to $485^{\circ}C$ in white quartz, from $227^{\circ}C$ to $384^{\circ}C$ in smoky quartz, from $133^{\circ}C$ to $186^{\circ}C$ in amethyst, respectively. Salinities of fluid inclusions in each mineralization stages ranges from 40 wt.% to 58 wt.% in white and smoky quartz, from 1.0 wt.% to 8.7 wt.% in amethyst respectively. A consideration of the pressure regime during vug quartz deposition based on the boiling evidence suggests lithostatic pressure of less than 72 bars. This range of pressure indicate that vug quartz lay at depth of 750 m below the surface at the during mineralization.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.361-365
• /
• 2009

Effects of quercetin, a kind of flavonoids, on the vasodilating actions were investigated. Among the mechanisms for quercetin-induced vasodilatation in rat aorta, the involvement with the $Ca^{2+}$ activated $K^+$ ($K_{Ca}$) channel was examined. Pretreatment with NE ($5\;{\mu}M$) or KCl (60 mM) was carried out and then, the modulation by quercetin of the constriction was examined using rat aorta ring strips (3 mm) at $36.5^{\circ}C$. Quercetin (0.1 to $100\;{\mu}M$) relaxed the NE-induced vasoconstrictions in a concentrationdependent manner. NO synthesis (NOS) inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA), at $100\;{\mu}M$ reduced the quercetin ($100\;{\mu}M$)-induced vasodilatation from $97.8{\pm}3.7%$ (n=10) to $78.0{\pm}11.6%$ (n=5, p<0.05). Another NOS inhibitor, L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), at $10\;{\mu}M$ also had the similar effect. In the presence of both $100\;{\mu}M$ L-NMMA and $10\;{\mu}M$ indomethacin, the quercetin-induced vasodilatation was further attenuated by $100\;{\mu}M$ tetraethylammonium (TEA, a $K_{Ca}$ channel inhibitor). Also TEA decreased the quercetin-induced vasodilatation in endothelium-denuded rat aorta. Used other $K_{Ca}$ channel inhibitors, the quercetin-induced vasodilatation was attenuated by $0.3\;{\mu}M$ apamin (a SK channel inhibitor), but not by 30 nM charybdotoxin (a BK and IK channel inhibitor). Quercetin caused a concentration-dependent vasodilatation, due to the endotheliumdependent and -independent actions. Also quercetin contributes to the vasodilatation selectively with SK channel on smooth muscle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.687-694
• /
• 2017

Plumbagin, a hydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinone compound from plant metabolites, exhibits anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities via modulating various signaling molecules. However, its effects on vascular functions are rarely studied except in pulmonary and coronary arteries where NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibition was suggested as a mechanism. Here we investigate the effects of plumbagin on the contractility of skeletal artery (deep femoral artery, DFA), mesenteric artery (MA) and renal artery (RA) in rats. Although plumbagin alone had no effect on the isometric tone of DFA, $1{\mu}M$ phenylephrine (PhE)-induced partial contraction was largely augmented by plumbagin (${\Delta}T_{Plum}$, 125% of 80 mM KCl-induced contraction at $1{\mu}M$). With relatively higher concentrations (>$5{\mu}M$), plumbagin induced a transient contraction followed by tonic relaxation of DFA. Similar biphasic augmentation of the PhE-induced contraction was observed in MA and RA. VAS2870 and GKT137831, specific NOX4 inhibitors, neither mimicked nor inhibited ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ in DFA. Also, pretreatment with tiron or catalase did not affect ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ of DFA. Under the inhibition of PhE-contraction with L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker (nifedipine, $1{\mu}M$), plumbagin still induced tonic contraction, suggesting $Ca^{2+}$-sensitization mechanism of smooth muscle. Although ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ was consistently observed under pretreatment with Rho A-kinase inhibitor (Y27632, $1{\mu}M$), a PKC inhibitor (GF 109203X, $10{\mu}M$) largely suppressed ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$. Taken together, it is suggested that plumbagin facilitates the PKC activation in the presence of vasoactive agonists in skeletal arteries. The biphasic contractile effects on the systemic arteries should be considered in the pharmacological studies of plumbagin and 1,4-naphthoquinones.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.11
• /
• pp.1933-1942
• /
• 2016

A novel ${\alpha}-glucoside$ hydrolase (named PspAG97A) from glycoside hydrolase family 97 (GH97) was cloned from the deep-sea bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. K8, which was screened from the sediment of Kongsfjorden. Sequence analysis showed that PspAG97A belonged to GH97, and shared 41% sequence identity with the characterized ${\alpha}-glucoside$ BtGH97a. PspAG97A possessed three key catalytically related glutamate residues. Mutation of the glutamate residues indicated that PspAG97A belonged to the inverting subfamily of GH97. PspAG97A showed significant reversibility against changes in salt concentration. It exhibited halophilic ability and improved thermostability in NaCl solution, with maximal activity at 1.0 M NaCl/KCl, and retained more than 80% activity at NaCl concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 2.0 M for over 50 h. Furthermore, PspAG97A hydrolyzed not only ${\alpha}-1,4-glucosidic$ linkage, but also ${\alpha}-1,6-$ and ${\alpha}-1,2-glucosidic$ linkages. Interestingly, PspAG97A possessed high catalytic efficiency for long-chain substrates with ${\alpha}-1,6-linkage$. These characteristics are clearly different from other known ${\alpha}-glucoside$ hydrolases in GH97, implying that PspAG97A is a unique ${\alpha}-glucoside$ hydrolase of GH97.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.51-51
• /
• 2003

The medicinal plant Cimicifuga Racemosa (Black cohosh) has been used to treat many kinds of neuronal and menopausal symptoms, such as arthritis, menopausal depression, nerve pain, etc. Here, we examined the effect of Cimicifugoside (CF), one of triterpene glycosides which have been known as pharmacologically active ingredients of C. Racemosa, on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-mediated catecholamine (CA) secretion in bovine adrenal chromaffin cell. Cimicifugoside inhibited calcium increase induced by 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP), a nAChR agonist with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 18${\pm}$2${\mu}$M. In contrast, cimicifugoside did not affect the calcium increases evoked by high K$\^$+/, veratridine, and bradykinin. The DMPP-induced sodium increase was also inhibited by cimicifugoside with IC50 of 2${\pm}$0.3${\mu}$M, suggesting that the activity of nAChRs is inhibited by cimicifugoside. Cimicifugoside did not effect on the KCl-induced secretion but markedly inhibited the DMPP-induced catecholamine secretion which was monitored by carbon-fiber amperometry in real time, and by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) through electrochemical detection. The results suggest that cimicifugoside selectively inhibits nAChR-mediated response in bovine chromaffin cells.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.310-320
• /
• 1973

The sorption and fixation of cesium in dilute solutions by vermiculite saturated with Na or K were studied in order to investigate any possibibty of its use in radioactive effluent treatment. The cesium sorbed by vermiculite with the increase in pH is attributed to the increase of sorption surface as a result of the dispersion. The increased cesium sorption by Na-vermiculite is due to the different sorption rates by the different exchange sites : external surface and internal surface. It is shown that the larger amount of sorbed cesium was extracted by KCI rather than with any other extractants. It is suggested that the fixation of cesium by vermiculite occurs at the crystal edge where Cs may replace K. Domestic vermiculite is a valuable material for use in the cesium sorption and fixation, and might be useful as a good packing material outside the tank of highly radioactive liquid waste. And from these results one could suggest that the artificial alteration of the biotite to vermiculite might be occurring by treating with NaCl.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.107-124
• /
• 1985

More than fifty copper veins are emplaced around late Cretaceous granitoid stock in Haman-Gunbuk district, southernmost part of Korea. These veins cut both late Cretaceous granitoids and hornfels of Jindong formation which is intruded by the granitoids. The paragenesis of veins is nearly the same, consisting of (1) an early vein stage in which most iron oxide minerals, tourmaline and other silitcate minerals were deposited, (2) a calcite and quartz with base·metal sulfide stage and (3) late vein lets of barren calcite stage. Fluid inclusion studies reveal highly systematic trends of salinity and temperature during mineralization. Ore fluids of early vein stage were complex NaCl-KCl rich brines. Salinities of polyphase inclusions in quartz and scapolite in thie stage reached up to 72 wt.% and gradually decreased to 10.5wt. % in closing stage. Homogenization temperatures of inclusions in the beginning of this stage were up to $490^{\circ}C$ and then declined steadly to $290^{\circ}C$ in the late stage. Salinities of fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite of base·metal sulfide stage were 37.4~5.7wt. % and homogenization temperatures range from $373^{\circ}C$ to $170^{\circ}C$. Intermittent boiling of early vein fluid is indicated by fluid inclusions in quartz. Potassic alteration of granodiorite adjacent to early vein seems to be related to early saline vein fluid. Fluid inclusion data of base-metal sulfide stage of this area reveal nearly the same range as those of Koseong copper mining district about 30km apart from this area.