• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.493-502
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• 2020

Apigenin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, is known to exhibit significant anticancer activity. This study was designed to determine the effects of apigenin on two malignant mesothelioma cell lines, MSTO-211H and H2452, and to explore the underlying mechanism(s). Apigenin significantly inhibited cell viability with a concomitant increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and ATP depletion, resulting in apoptosis and necroptosis in monolayer cell culture. Apigenin upregulated DNA damage response proteins, including the DNA double strand break marker phospho (p)-histone H2A.X. and caused a transition delay at the G₂/M phase of cell cycle. Western blot analysis showed that apigenin treatment upregulated protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, p-MLKL, and p-RIP3 along with an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. ATP supplementation restored cell viability and levels of DNA damage-, apoptosisand necroptosis-related proteins that apigenin caused. In addition, N-acetylcysteine reduced ROS production and improved ΔΨm loss and cell death that were caused by apigenin. In a 3D spheroid culture model, ROS-dependent necroptosis was found to be a mechanism involved in the anti-cancer activity of apigenin against malignant mesothelioma cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that apigenin can induce ROS-dependent necroptotic cell death due to ATP depletion through mitochondrial dysfunction. This study provides us a possible mechanism underlying why apigenin could be used as a therapeutic candidate for treating malignant mesothelioma.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.479-481
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• 2002

UV-induced DNA damage causes cell killing and mutations leading to carcinogenesis. In normal human cells, UV damage such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and primidine-prymidone (6-4) photoproducts are mainly repaired by nucleotide excision repair mechanism. The molecular processes have been well characterized recently. To know the influence of mitochondrial genome on the nucleotide excision repair mechanism against CPDs, we comparatively examined the production of CPDs by UVC irradiation and their repair kinetics in human cells completely lacking mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the parental HeLa S cells. Whole DNA extracted from the cells exposed to UVC was treated with T4-endonuclease V to break the phosphodiester bond adjacent to CPDs. The DNA was electrophoresed in a denaturing agarose gel, which was visualized by ethidium bromide staining. The relative amount of CPDs was determined by image analysis using NIH Image software. MtDNA- less (rho-O) cells were apparently more sensitive to UVC than HeLa S cells, while the level of induction of CPDs in rho-O and HeLa cells was comparable. The repair of CPDs was less efficient in rho-O cells compared with HeLa cells. The residual amount of CPDs after 24-h repair was larger in rho-O cells than in HeLa cells where more than 90 % of CPDs were repaired by then. The non-repaired CPDs would lead to apoptosis in rho-O cells. These results suggest that mitochondrial genome may contribute to some ATP-dependent steps in nucletide excision repair by supplying sufficient ATP which is generated through a respiratory chain in mitochondria.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2007

Adenosine has been reported to provide cytoprotection in the central nervous systems as well as myocardium by activating cell surface adenosine receptors. However, the exact target and mechanism of its action still remain controversial. The present study was performed to examine whether adenosine has a protective effect against $A{\beta}$-induced injury in neuroglial cells. The astrocyte-derived human neuroglioma cell line, A172 cells, and $A{\beta}_{25{\sim}35}$ were employed to produce an experimental $A{\beta}$-induced glial cell injury model. Adenosine significantly prevented $A{\beta}$-induced apoptotic cell death. Studies using various nucleotide receptor agonists and antagonists suggested that the protection was mediated by $A_1$ receptors. Adenosine attenuated $A{\beta}$-induced impairment in mitochondrial functional integrity as estimated by cellular ATP level and MTT reduction ability. In addition, adenosine prevented $A{\beta}$-induced mitochondrial permeability transition, release of cytochrome c into cytosol and subsequent activation of caspase-9. The protective effect of adenosine disappeared when cells were pretreated with 5-hydroxydecanoate, a selective blocker of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel. In conclusion, therefore we suggest that adenosine exerts protective effect against $A{\beta}$-induced cell death of A172 cells, and that the underlying mechanism of the protection may be attributed to preservation of mitochonarial functional integrity through opening of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary leucine supplementation on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in the liver of normal birth weight (NBW) and intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) weanling piglets. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of sixteen pairs of NBW and IUGR piglets from sixteen sows were selected according to their birth weight. At postnatal day 14, all piglets were weaned and fed either a control diet or a leucine-supplemented diet for 21 d. Thereafter, a $2{\times}2$ factorial experimental design was used. Each treatment consisted of eight replications with one piglet per replication. RESULTS: Compared with NBW piglets, IUGR piglets had a decreased (P < 0.05) hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content. Also, IUGR piglets exhibited reductions (P < 0.05) in the activities of hepatic mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), citrate synthase (CS), ${\alpha}$-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (${\alpha}$-KGDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and complexes I and V, along with decreases (P < 0.05) in the concentration of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the protein expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ coactivator $1{\alpha}$ (PGC-$1{\alpha}$). Dietary leucine supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the content of ATP, and the activities of CS, ${\alpha}$-KGDH, MDH, and complex V in the liver of piglets. Furthermore, compared to those fed a control diet, piglets given a leucine-supplemented diet exhibited increases (P < 0.05) in the mtDNA content and in the mRNA expressions of sirtuin 1, PGC-$1{\alpha}$, nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial transcription factor A, and ATP synthase, $H^+$ transporting, mitochondrial F1 complex, ${\beta}$ polypeptide in liver. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary leucine supplementation may exert beneficial effects on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in NBW and IUGR weanling piglets.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10433-10438
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• 2015

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer diagnosed in children and represents approximately 25% of cancer diagnoses among those younger than 15 years of age. Aim and Objectives: This study investigated substitutions in the ATP synthase subunit 6 gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as a potential diagnostic biomarker for early detection and diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Based on mtDNA from 23 subjects diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, approximately 465 bp of the ATP synthase subunit 6 gene were amplified and sequenced. Results: The sequencing revealed thirty-one mutations at 14 locations in ATP synthase subunit 6 of mtDNA in the ALL subjects. All were identified as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a homoplasmic pattern. The mutations were distributed between males and females. Novel haplotypes were identified in this investigation: haplotype (G) was recorded in 34% in diagnosed subjects; the second haplotype was (C) with frequency of 13% in ALL subjects. Neither of these were observed in control samples. Conclusions: These haplotypes were identified for the first time in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Five mutations able to change amino acid synthesis for the ATP synthase subunit 6 were associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This investigation could be used to provide an overview of incidence frequency of acute lyphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Saudi patients based on molecular events.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.843-850
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• 2015

The1hepatic cell death induced by acetaminophen (APAP) is closely related to cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, which is mainly caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key sensor of low energy status. AMPK regulates metabolic homeostasis by stimulating catabolic metabolism and suppressing anabolic pathways to increase cellular energy levels. We found that the decrease in active phosphorylation of AMPK in response to APAP correlates with decreased ATP levels, in vivo. Therefore, we hypothesized that the enhanced production of ATP via AMPK stimulation can lead to amelioration of APAP-induced liver failure. A769662, an allosteric activator of AMPK, produced a strong synergistic effect on AMPK Thr172 phosphorylation with APAP in primary hepatocytes and liver tissue. Interestingly, activation of AMPK by A769662 ameliorated the APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6N mice treated with APAP at a dose of 400 mg/kg intraperitoneally. However, mice treated with APAP alone developed massive centrilobular necrosis, and APAP increased their serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels. Furthermore, A769662 administration prevented the loss of intracellular ATP without interfering with the APAP-mediated reduction of mitochondrial dysfunction. In contrast, inhibition of glycolysis by 2-deoxy-glucose eliminated the beneficial effects of A769662 on APAP-mediated liver injury. In conclusion, A769662 can effectively protect mice against APAP-induced liver injury through ATP synthesis by anaerobic glycolysis. Furthermore, stimulation of AMPK may have potential therapeutic application for APAP overdose.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.19-19
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• 2003

We have developed a cardiac cell model (Kyoto Model) for the sinoatrial node and ventricle, which is composed of a common set of kinetic equations of membrane ionic currents, Ca$\^$2+/dynamics of sarcoplasmic reticulum and contractile protein. To expand this model by including metabolic pathways, the intracellular ATP metabolism, which is pivotal in cardiac excitation - contraction coupling, was incorporated. ATP consumption by the sarcolemmal Na$\^$+/ pump and the Ca pump in the sarcoplasmic reticulum were calculated with stoichiometry of 3Na:2K:1ATP and 2Ca:1ATP, respectively. ATP consumption by contraction was estimated according to experimental data. Dependence of contraction on ATP and inorganic phosphate was modeled, based on data of skinned cardiac fiber. in production by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was modified from Korzeniewski '||'&'||' Zoladz (2001), and creatine kinase and adenylate kinase reactions were incorporated. ATP dependence of ATP-sensitive K channel and L type Ca channel were also included.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.408-417
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• 2022

Background: Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) has been used as a health supplement and herbal medicine. Astrocytes are one of the key cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and have bioenergetic potential as they stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis. They play a critical role in connecting the brain vasculature and nerves in the CNS. Methods: Brain samples from KRGE-administered mice were tested using immunohistochemistry. Treatment of human brain astrocytes with KRGE was subjected to assays such as proliferation, cytotoxicity, Mitotracker, ATP production, and O₂ consumption rate as well as western blotting to demonstrate the expression of proteins related to mitochondria functions. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) was diminished utilizing siRNA transfection. Results: Brain samples from KRGE-administered mice harbored an increased number of GFAP-expressing astrocytes. KRGE triggered the proliferation of astrocytes in vitro. Enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis induced by KRGE was detected using Mitotracker staining, ATP production, and O₂ consumption rate assays. The expression of proteins related to mitochondrial electron transport was increased in KRGE-treated astrocytes. These effects were blocked by HIF-1α knockdown. The factors secreted from KRGE-treated astrocytes were determined, revealing the expression of various cytokines and growth factors, especially those related to angiogenesis and neurogenesis. KRGE-treated astrocyte conditioned media enhanced the differentiation of adult neural stem cells into mature neurons, increasing the migration of endothelial cells, and these effects were reduced in the background of HIF-1α knockdown. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRGE exhibits prophylactic potential by stimulating astrocyte mitochondrial biogenesis through HIF-1α, resulting in improved neurovascular function.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2009

Molecular markers developed from the flanking sequences of two cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)-associated genes, orf456 and ${\Psi}atp6-2$, have been used for marker-assisted selection of CMS in pepper. However, in practice, the presence of orf456 and ${\Psi}atp6-2$ at substoichiometric levels even in maintainer lines hampers reliable selection of plants containing the CMS gene. In this study, we developed a novel CMS-specific molecular marker, accD-U, for reliable determination of CMS lines in pepper, and used the newly and previously developed markers to determine the cytoplasm types of pepper breeding lines and germplasms. This marker was developed from a deletion in a chloroplast-derived sequence in the mitochondrial genome of a CMS pepper line. CMS pepper lines could be unambiguously determined by presence or absence of the accD-U marker band. Application of orf456, ${\Psi}atp6-2$and accD-U to various pepper breeding lines and germplasms revealed that accD-U is the most reliable CMS selection marker. A wide distribution of orf456, but not ${\Psi}atp6-2$, in germplasms suggests that the pepper cytoplasm containing both orf456 and ${\Psi}atp6-2$ has been selected as CMS cytoplasm from cytoplasm containing only orf456. Furthermore, factors other than orf456 may be required for the regulation of male sterility in pepper.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.416-422
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• 2005

We previously used Southern blot analysis to detect restriction-length polymorphisms between male fertile and cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) cytoplasms at the coxII and atp6 loci of the mtDNA of Capsicum annuum L. Two copies of atp6 were found in each male fertile and CMS pepper lines. Interestingly, one of the copies of atp6 in CMS pepper was a 3'-truncated pseudogene. The open reading frame of the coxII gene was the same in the fertile (N-) and CMS (S-) lines. However, the nucleotide sequence in the S-cytoplasm diverged from that in the N-cytoplasm 41 bp downstream of the stop codon. To develop CMS-specific sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers, inverse PCR was performed to characterize the nucleotide sequences of the 5' and 3' flanking regions of mitochondrial atp6 and coxII from the cytoplasms of male fertile (N-) and CMS (S-) pepper plants. Based on these data, two CMS-specific SCAR markers, 607 and 708 bp long, were developed to distinguish N-cytoplasm from S-cytoplasm by PCR. The CMS-specific PCR bands were verified for 20 cultivars containing either N- or S-cytoplasm. PCR amplification of CMS-specific mitochondrial nucleotide sequences will allow quick and reliable identification of the cytoplasmic types of individual plants at the seedling stage, and assessment of the purity of $F_1$ seed lots. The strategy used in this report for identifying CMS-specific markers could be adopted for many other crops where CMS is used for F1 seed production.