• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1998

Kinetic studies of L-Alanine dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis-catalyzed reactions in the presence of $Zn^{2+}$ were carried out. The substrate (L-alanine) saturation curve is hyperbolic in the absence of the metal ion but it becomes sigmoidal when $Zn^{2+}$ is added to the reaction mixture indicating the positive cooperative binding of the substrate in the presence of zinc ion. The cooperativity of substrate binding depends on the xinc ion concentration: the Hill coefficients ($n_H$) varied from 1.0 to 1.95 when the zinc ion concentration varied from 0 to $60\;{\mu}m$. The inhibition of AlaDH by $Zn^{2+}$ is reversible and noncompetitive with respect to $NAD^+$ ($K_i\;=\;5.28{\times}10^{-5}\;M$). $Zn^{2+}$ itself binds to AlaDH with positive cooperativity and the cooperativity is independent of substrate concentration. The Hill coefficients of substrate biding in the presence of $Zn^{2+}$ are not affected by the enzyme concentration indicating that $Zn^{2+}$ binding does not change the polymerization-depolymerization equilibria of the enzyme. Among other metal ions, $Zn^{2+}$ appears to be a specific reversible inhibitor inducing conformational change through the intersubunit interaction. These results indicate that $Zn^{2+}$ is an allosteric competitive inhibitor and substrate being a non-cooperative per se, excludes the $Zn^{2+}$ from its binding site and thus exhibits positive cooperativity. The allosteric mechanism of AlaDh from Bacillus subtilis is consistent with both MWC and Koshland's allosteric model.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.176-184
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• 2015

In our search for natural soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors from plants, an extract of the dried whole plants of Euphorbia supina Rafin was found to significantly inhibit sEH activity in vitro. Phytochemical investigation of E. supina resulted in isolation of 17 compounds (1 - 17), including triterpenes (1 - 4), phenolic compounds (5 - 8), and flavonoid derivatives (9 - 17). The structures of the isolated compounds were established mainly by extensive analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR, and MS data. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their sEH inhibitory activity. Among the isolated phenolic compounds, 8 was identified as a significant inhibitor of sEH, with an IC₅₀ value of 15.4 ± 1.3 μM. Additionally, a kinetic analysis of isolated compounds (2, 5, 8 - 11, 13, and 17) indicated that the inhibitory effects of flavonoid derivatives 10 and 11 were of mixed-type, with inhibitory constants (K_i) ranging from 3.6 ± 0.8 to 21.8 ± 1.0 μM, whereas compounds 2, 5, 8, 9, 13, and 17 were non-competitive inhibitors with inhibition K_i values ranging from 3.3 ± 0.2 to 39.5 ± 0.0 μM.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.297-301
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• 2003

An inhibitor of squalene synthase, a key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathways and a target for improved agents to lower plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein, was sequentially purified from Curcuma longa by acetone extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Active compound, YUF-01, was successfully purified and analyzed as $C_{20}H_{21}O_6$ by electron ionization mass spectrum. Through $^1H-NMR$ and $^{13}C-NMR$ analyses, YUF-01 was identified as curcumin, which showed strong inhibition of squalene synthase.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.853-859
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• 2017

This study was conducted in an effort to investigate the effect of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) on enzymatic browning of burdock and their anti-oxidant activity. The MRPs were prepared by heating glucose and amino acids at $90^{\circ}C$, which served to produce a strong inhibitory effect on burdock polyphenol oxidase. As the reaction time of the solution containing glucose and amino acid increased at $90^{\circ}C$, the production of MRPs increased and intensity of the brown color deepened. When MRPs were prepared by heating at $90^{\circ}C$ for five hours, the absorbance of MRPs from glucose and lysine was 6.44, while those of glucose and glycine was 1.95. The MRPs synthesized from the glucose and lysine also reduced the pH of MRPs from 5.60 to 4.51, but those from glucose and glycine decreased slightly from 5.57 to 5.33. The Michealis-Menten constant value ($K_m$) of burdock PPO with pyrocatechol as a substrate was 16.0 mM, and MRPs were a non-competitive inhibitor against burdock PPO. The anti-oxidant activity of MRPs was measured by evaluating its radical scavenging activities of DPPH radicals, ABTS radicals and reducing power. The color intensity of MRPs produced by lysine and glucose were deeper than that produced by glucose and glycine. It was also found that MRPs produced from glucose and lysine exhibited stronger anti-oxidant properties than those produced by glucose and glycine.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

The abundance of multi-drug resistance ATPase binding cassette and deranged self-renewal pathways shown in cancer stem cells (CSCs) played a crucial role in tumorigenesis, tumor resistance, tumor recurrence, and tumor metastasis. Therefore, elucidation of CSCs biology can improve diagnosis, enable targeted treatment, and guide the follow up of GI cancer patients. In order to achieve chemoquiescence, seizing cancer through complete ablation of CSCs, CSCs are rational targets for the design of interventions that will enhance responsiveness to traditional therapeutic strategies and contribute in the prevention of local recurrence as well as metastasis. However, current cancer treatment strategies fail to either detect or differentiate the CSCs from their non-tumorigenic progenies mostly due to the absence of specific biomarkers and potent agents to kill CSCs. Recent advances in knowledge of CSCs enable to produce several candidates to ablate CSCs in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, especially cancers originated from inflammation-driven mutagenesis such as Barrett's esophagus (BE), Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer, and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Our research teams elucidated through revisiting old drugs that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and potassium competitive acid blocker (p-CAB) beyond authentic acid suppression, chloroquine for autophage inhibition, sonic hedgehog (SHH) inhibitors, and Wnt/β-catenin/NOTCH inhibitor can ablate CSCs specifically and efficiently. Furthermore, nanoformulations of these molecules could provide an additional advantage for more selective targeting of the pathways existing in CSCs just like current molecular targeted therapeutics and sustained action, while normal stem cells intact. In this review article, the novel approach specifically to ablate CSCs existing in GI cancers will be introduced with the introduction of explored mode of action.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.540-549
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• 2016

Plant residues serve as substrates for the proliferation and overwintering of plant pathogenic fungi in soil. Effects of the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum on the colonization of wheat straw by the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium solani were investigated under different soil moisture regimes (-50 vs. -500 kPa) in non-sterile soil. T. harzianum ThzID1-M3 and/or F. solani were added along with wheat straw to non-sterile soils. ThzID1-M3, other Trichoderma species, and F. solani were monitored for a 21-day period using quantitative PCR. ThzID1-M3 reduced the colonization of F. solani on wheat straw (p < 0.05) under both moisture regimes, and F. solani reduced the colonization by ThzID1-M3 and other Trichoderma species (p < 0.05), thus suggesting competitive inhibition between ThzID1-M3 and F. solani. Colonization by ThzID1-M3 and generic Trichoderma was improved in the wet soil (p < 0.05), but colonization by F. solani did not differ between the two moisture conditions. Thus, the inhibitory effect of ThzID1-M3 was greater in the wet soil (p < 0.05). The growth competition between ThzID1-M3 and F. solani to colonize plant debris suggests that the biocontrol fungus T. harzianum may reduce the potential of the plant pathogen, F. solani, to survive and proliferate on crops.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2011

Quercetin mainly exists in the skin of colored fruits and vegetables as one of flavonoids. Recent studies show that quercetin, like other flavonoids, has diverse pharmacological actions. However, relatively little is known about quercetin effects in the regulations of ligand-gated ion channels. In the previous reports, we have shown that quercetin regulates subsets of homomeric ligand-gated ion channels such as glycine, 5-$HT_{3A}$ and ${\alpha}7$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In the present study, we examined quercetin effects on heteromeric neuronal ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes after injection of cRNA encoding bovine neuronal ${\alpha}3$ and ${\beta}4$ subunits. Treatment with acetylcholine elicited an inward peak current ($I_{ACh}$) in oocytes expressing ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Co-treatment with quercetin and acetylcholine inhibited $I_{ACh}$ in oocytes expressing ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The inhibition of $I_{ACh}$ by quercetin was reversible and concentration-dependent. The half-inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of quercetin was $14.9{\pm}0.8\;{\mu}M$ in oocytes expressing ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The inhibition of $I_{ACh}$ by quercetin was voltage-independent and non-competitive. These results indicate that quercetin might regulate ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and this regulation might be one of the pharmacological actions of quercetin in nervous systems.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2011

The flavonoid quercetin is a low molecular weight compound generally found in apple, gingko, tomato, onion and other red-colored fruits and vegetables. Like other flavonoids, quercetin has diverse pharmacological actions. However, relatively little is known about the influence of quercetin effects in the regulation of ligand-gated ion channels. Previously, we reported that quercetin regulates subsets of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors such as ${\alpha}3{\beta}4$, ${\alpha}7$ and ${\alpha}9{\alpha}10$. Presently, we investigated the effects of quercetin on muscle-type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes after injection of cRNA encoding human fetal or adult muscle-type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits. Acetylcholine treatment elicited an inward peak current ($I_{ACh}$) in oocytes expressing both muscle-type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and co-treatment of quercetin with acetylcholine inhibited $I_{ACh}$. Pre-treatment of quercetin further inhibited $I_{ACh}$ in oocytes expressing adult and fetal muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The inhibition of $I_{ACh}$ by quercetin was reversible and concentration-dependent. The $IC_{50}$ of quercetin was $18.9{\pm}1.2{\mu}M$ in oocytes expressing adult muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The inhibition of $I_{ACh}$ by quercetin was voltage-independent and non-competitive. These results indicate that quercetin might regulate human muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel activity and that quercetin-mediated regulation of muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor might be coupled to regulation of neuromuscular junction activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2013

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin found in grapes, red wine, and berries. Resveratrol has been known to have many beneficial health effects, such as anti-cancer, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and life-prolonging effects. However, relatively little is known about the effects of resveratrol on the regulation of ligand-gated ion channels. We have previously reported that resveratrol regulates subsets of homomeric ligand-gated ion channels such as those of 5-$HT_{3A}$ receptors. The ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric $acid_C$($GABA_C$) receptor is mainly expressed in retinal bipolar cells and plays an important role in visual processing. In the present study, we examined the effects of resveratrol on the channel activity of homomeric $GABA_C$ receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes injected with cRNA encoding human $GABA_C$ ${\rho}$ subunits. Our data show that the application of GABA elicits an inward peak current ($I_{GABA}$) in oocytes that express the $GABA_C$ receptor. Resveratrol treatment had no effect on oocytes injected with $H_2O$ or with $GABA_C$ receptor cRNA. Co-treatment with resveratrol and GABA inhibited $I_{GABA}$ in oocytes with $GABA_C$ receptors. The inhibition of $I_{GABA}$ by resveratrol was in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner. The $IC_{50}$ of resveratrol was $28.9{\pm}2.8{\mu}M$ in oocytes expressing $GABA_C$ receptor. The inhibition of $I_{GABA}$ by resveratrol was in voltage-independent and non-competitive manner. These results indicate that resveratrol might regulate $GABA_C$ receptor expression and that this regulation might be one of the pharmacological actions of resveratrol on the nervous system.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2005

We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to know whether the inhibitory effects of ginsenosides on $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel acctivity are coupled to anti-nausea and anti-vomiting action. In vitro study, we investigated the effect of compound K (CK) and M4, which are ginsenoside metabolites, on human $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Treatment of CK or M4 themselves had no effect in both oocytes injected with $H_2O\;and\;5-HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA. In oocytes injected with $5- HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA, M4 treatment inhibited more potently 5-HT-induced inward peak current $(I_{5-HT})$ than CK with dose-dependent and reversible manner. The half-inhibitory concentrations $(IC_{50})$ of CK and M4 were $36.9\;\pm\;10.1\;and\;7.3\;\pm\;2.2\;{\mu}M$, respectively. The inhibition of $I_{5-HT}$ by M4 was non-competitive and voltage-independent. These results indicate that M4 might regulate $5-HT_{3A}$ receptors. In vivo experiments, injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.v.) induced both nausea and vomiting with 1 h latency. These episodes reached to peak after 2 h and persisted for 4 h. Pre-treatment of GTS (500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting by $51\;\pm\;8.4\;and\;48.8\;\pm\;6.4\%$ during 4 h compared to GIS­untreated group, respectively. These results show the possibility that in vitro inhibition of $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity by ginsenosides might be coupled to in vivo anti-emetic activity.