• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제59권2호
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• pp.159-164
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• 2016

Plant growth regulator is an essential pesticide to date while the available active ingredient is not well understood unlike fungicide, insecticide and herbicide. This study was aimed to evaluate a new chemical class of plant growth regulator, and the total of 92 benzene derivatives were screened for their germination and early stage of the root growth regulation on Brassica campestris. Thirty benzaldehydes, nine acids, one amide, and one ester showed potent root growth inhibitory activity (>70 % inhibition) while only salicylaldehyde showed potent germination inhibition ($IC_{50}=81.2mg/L$) suggesting that benzaldehyde was a key module candidate for the growth inhibition. Benzaldehydes were further evaluated for root growth inhibition. 2,3-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde and salicylaldehyde showed $IC_{50}$ values of 8.0 and 83.9 mg/L, respectively. On the other hand, salicylaldehyde, and 2,4,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde were found to have root growth promotion effects less than 10 mg/L. This result suggests that the benzaldehyde is a new class candidate for plant growth regulator.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.252-255
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• 1999

Chalcones 유도체들을 합성하고 farnesyl protein transferase(FPTase) 저해활성을 측정하여, 기질분자의 치환기 변화에 따른 구조와 활성과의관계(SAR)를 Free-Wilson법과 Hansch법으로 검토하였다. Benzoyl group 중 X-치환기가 styryl중 Y-치환기보다 활성에 더욱 큰 영향을 미쳤으며 meta- > ortho-, para-치환기의 순으로 활성을 나타내었다. 또한, X및 Y-치환기의 소수성이 적정값$(({\Sigma}logP)_{opt}\;=\;3.915)$에 근접할수록 활성이 증가 하였으며, X-치환기의 입체효과와(Es > O) 전자밀게 Y-치환기에 의한 공명효과(R < O)가 활성에 미치는 중요한 요소로 인식되었다. 다루어진 화합물중에서 비 치환체, 8은 가장 높은 FPTase저해활성$(pl_{50}\;=\;4.30)$을 나타내었다. 그리고 기질 수용체간의 상호작용을 가정하여 제안하였다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제27권7호
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• pp.1001-1004
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• 2006

The m-calpain activity hydrolyzing a fluorogenic substrate of N-Succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amino-4-methylcourmarin (LLVY-AMC) was significantly stimulated by more than two-fold in the presence of 5$\mu$M $\alpha$synuclein at $15{^{\circ}C}$. The stimulation was also confirmed with azocasein. The stimulation of the peptide hydrolyzing activity required structural intactness of $\alpha$-synuclein since the C-terminally or N-terminally modified proteins such as $\beta$-synuclein, $\alpha$-syn1-97, and $\alpha$-syn61-140 did not increase the proteolytic activity. Instead, however, the N-terminally truncated $\alpha$-syn61-140 was shown to drastically suppress the calpain activity. Since the N-terminal truncation was known to be the primary cleaving event of calpain-mediated proteolysis of $\alpha$-synuclein and the $\alpha$-syn61-140 has been demonstrated to be resistant against the calpain digestion, it has been proposed that the intracellular calpain activity could be regulated in a reciprocal manner by $\alpha$-synuclein and its proteolyzed C-terminal fragment. Based on the results, a possible physiological function of $\alpha$-synuclein has been suggested as a calpain regulator which contains both stimulatory and inhibitory activities.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.1099-1105
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• 2004

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a primary regulator of lipid metabolism. Potency for activation of PPAR$\gamma$, one of a subfamily of PPARs, particularly mirrors glucose lowering activity. We prepared thiazolidinediones featuring benzoxazole moiety for subtype selective PPAR$\gamma$ activators. 5-[4-[2-(Benzoxazol-2-yl-alkylamino)ethoxy]benzyl]thiazolidine-2,4-diones have been prepared by Mitsunobu reaction of benzoxazolylalkylaminoethanol 8 and hydroxybenzylthiazolidinedione 6 and their activities were evaluated. Most compounds tested were identified as potent PPAR$\gamma$ agonists.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.708-714
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• 2007

The two-component signal transduction, which typically consists of a histidine kinase and a response regulator, is used by bacterial cells to sense changes in their environment. Previously, the SphS-SphR histidine kinase and response regulator pair of phosphate sensing signal transduction has been identified in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. In addition, some response regulators in bacteria have been shown to be cross regulated by low molecular weight phosphorylated compounds in the absence of the cognate histidine kinase. The ability of an endogenous acetyl phosphate to phosphorylate the response regulator, SphR in the absence of the cognate histidine kinase, SphS was therefore tested in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The mutant lacking functional SphS and acetate kinase showed no detectable alkaline phosphatase activity under phosphate-limiting growth conditions. The results suggested that the endogenous acetyl phosphate accumulated inside the mutants could not activate the SphR via phosphorylation. On the other hand, exogenous acetyl phosphate could allow the mutant lacking functional acetate kinase and phosphotransacetylase to grow under phosphate-limiting conditions suggesting the role of acetyl phosphate as an energy source. Reverse transcription PCR demonstrated that the transcripts of acetate kinase and phospho-transacetylase genes in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is up-regulated in response to phosphate limitation suggesting the importance of these two enzymes for energy metabolism in Synechocystis cells

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.197-202
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• 2014

SOX3 is one of the earliest neural markers in vertebrates, playing the role in specifying neuronal fate. In this study we have established first functional link between CREB and human SOX3 gene which both have important roles in the nervous system throughout development and in the adulthood. Here we demonstrate both in vitro and in vivo that CREB binds to CRE half-site located -195 to -191 within the human SOX3 promoter. Overexpression studies with CREB or its dominant-negative inhibitor A-CREB indicate that this transcription factor acts as a positive regulator of basal SOX3 gene expression in NT2/D1 cells. This is further confirmed by mutational analysis where mutation of CREB binding site results in reduction of SOX3 promoter activity. Our results point at CREB as a positive regulator of SOX3 gene transcription in NT2/D1 cells, while its contribution to RA induction of SOX3 promoter is not prominent.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.147-152
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• 1998

Cinnamaldehydes and related compounds were synthesized from various cinnamic acids based on the $2^{I}$-hydroxycinnamaidehyde isolated from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia Blume. The cytotoxicity to human solid tumor cells such as A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498 and HCT15 were measured. Cinnamic acid, cinnamates and cinnamyl alcohols did not show any cytotoxicity against the human tumor cells. Cinnamaldehydes and realted compounds were resistant to A549 cell line up to 15 .mu.g/ml. In contrast, HCT15 and SK-MEL-2 cells were much sensitive to these cinnamaidehyde analogues which showed $ED{50} values 0.63-8.1{\mu}g/ml.$Cytotoxicity of the saturated aldehydes was much weak compared to their unsaturated aldehydes. From these studies, it was found that the key functional group of the cinnamaldehyde-related compounds in the antitumor activity is the propenal group.p.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.218-221
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• 1998

Various cinnamaldehyde derivatives were synthesized and their inhibition activity $(pI_{50})$ of farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase) was measured to examine the structure-activity relationships (SAR) on the basis that FPTase was inhibited by ortho-hydroxycinnamaldehyde derived from extracts of the bark of Cinnamomum cassia Blume. The ortho-substituents on the phenyl backbone of cinnamaldehyde showed higher activity than those with meta- and para-substituents, and the side chain required unsaturated aldehyde. In particular, 2-chlorocinnamaldehyde, 5 showed the highest inhibition activity on the FPTase among them and its inhibition activity $(pI_{50})$ value was 4.45.

• BMB Reports
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.554-559
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• 1998

Activities of glutathione- and thioredoxin-related enzymes and phenylpropanoid-synthesizing enzymes were measured and compared in the developing leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity is maximal in the leaves of 2-wk-grown Arabidopsis. Tyrosine ammonia-lyase activity is maximal in the leaves of 3-wk-grown and 4-wk-grown Arabidopsis. Activity of thioitransferase, an enzyme involved in the reduction of various disulfide compounds, is higher in younger leaves than in older ones. A similar pattern was obtained in the activity of thioredoxin, a small protein known as a cofactor of ribonucleotide reductase and a regulator of photosynthesis. Activity of glutathione reductase is also higher in the younger leaves. Malate debydrogenase activity remains relatively constant during the development of Arabidopsis leaves. The results offer preliminary information for further approach to elucidate the mechanism of growth-dependent variations of these enzymes.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.442-448
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• 2004

Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) is a down-regulator of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, contributing to anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. For further characterization of modulatory activity on ploinflammatory gene expression in vivo, the effect of wogonin was examined in this experiment using animal models of skin inflammation. By topical application, wogonin inhibited an edematic response as well as ploinflammatory gene expression against contact dermatitis In mice. Wogonin inhibited ear edema ($19.4-22.6\%$) at doses of $50-200\;{\mu}g$/ear and down-regulated interleukin-$1{\beta}$ induction ($23.1\%$) at $200{\mu}g$/ear in phenol-induced simple irritation. Wogonin ($2{\times}50-2{\times}200{\mu}g$/ear) also inhibited edematic response ($51.2-43.9\%$) and down-regulated ploinflammatory gene expression of cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interferon-$\gamma$, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase with some different sensitivity against picryl chloride-induced delayed hypersensitivity reaction. All these results clearly demonstrate that wogonin is a down-regulator of ploinflammatory gene expression in animal models of skin inflammation. Therefore, wogonin may have potential for a new anti-inflammatory agent against skin inflammation.