• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.62-72
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• 2002

This study has investigated the biosynthesis and function of the heavy metal binding peptides, the phytochelatins, in plants. PCs are synthesised enzymatically from glutathione by the enzyme PC synthase in the presence of heavy metal ions. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism cadmium-sensitive, phytochelatin-deficient mutants have been isolated and characterised in previous studies. The cadl mutants have wildtype levels of glutathione, are PC deficient and lack PC synthase activity. Thus, the CADl gene has been proposed to encode PC synthase. The CADl gene was isolated by a positional cloning strategy The gene was mapped and a candidate identified. Each of four cadl mutants had a single base pair change in the candidate gene and the cadmium-sensitive, cadl phenotype was complemented by the candidate gene. This demonstrated the CADl gene had been cloned. A homologous gene in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe was identified through database searches. A targeted-deletion mutation of this gene was constructed and the mutant, like cadl mutants of Arabidopsis, was cadmium-sensitive and PC-deficient. A comparison of the redicted amino acid sequences reveals a highly conserved N-terminal region Presumed to be the catalytic domain and a variable C-terminal region containing multiple Cys residues proposed to be involved in activation of the enzyme by metal ions. Similar genes were also identified in animal species. The Arabidopsis CADl/AtPCSl and S. pombe SpbPCS genes were expressed in E. coli and were shown to be sufficient for glutathione-dependent, heavy metal activate PC synthesis in vitro, thus demonstrating these genes encode PC synthase enzymes. Using RT-PCR, AtPCSl expression appeared to be independent of Cd exposure. However, at higher levels of Cd exposure a AtPCSl-CUS reporter gene construct appeared to be more highly expressed. Using the reporter gene construct, AtPCSl was expressed most tissues. Expression appeared to be greater in younger tissues and same higher levels of expression was observed in some regions, including carpels and the base of siliques. AtPCS2 was a functional gene encoding an active PC synthase. However, its Pattern of expression and the phenotype of a mutant (or antisense line) have not been determined. Assuming the gene is functional then it has clearly been maintained through evolution and must provide some selective advantage. This implies that, at least in some cells or tissue, it is likely to be the dominant PC synthase expressed. This remains to be determined

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 1987

In vitro sensitivity testing was performed for 21 kinds putative anticancer drugs selected from references and information. Cellular damage of P815 mastocytoma cells following exposure to water extracts of drugs was evaluated by colony formation assay. Highly effective drugs with more than 50% inhibition of colony formation were seven (Houttuyniae Herba, Sanguisorbae Radix, Nepetae Herba, Manitis Squama, Lonicerae Flos, Amomi Semen, Polyporus), though not more effective than BCNU. According to the results of $^3H-thymidine$ incorporation assay for determination of selective cytotoxicity, 3 of these drugs (Houttuyniae Herba, Polyporus, Manitis Squama) were found to be low cytotoxic to normal mouse lymphoid cells. These findings suggest that the above 3 drugs may be used for effective anticancer drugs in vivo.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2012

Artificially oxidized cysteine residues in peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx6) were detected by electrospray interface capillary liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry after the preparation of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-GE). We used Prx6 as a model protein because it possesses only two cysteine residues at the 47th and 91st positions. The spot of Prx6 on 2D-GE undergoes a basic (isoelectric point, pI 6.6) to acidic (pI 6.2) shift by exposure to peroxide due to selective overoxidation of the active-site cysteine Cys-47 but not of Cys-91. However, we detected a tryptic peptide containing cysteine sulfonic acid at the 47th position from the basic spot and a peptide containing both oxidized Cys-47 and oxidized Cys-91 from the acidic spot of Prx6 after the separation by 2D-GE. We prepared two types of oxidized Prx6s: carrying oxidized Cys-47 (single oxidized Prx6), and other carrying both oxidized Cys-47 and Cys-91 (double oxidized Prx6). Using these oxidized Prx6s, the single oxidized Prx6 and double oxidized Prx6 migrated to pIs at 6.2 and 5.9, respectively. These results suggest that oxidized Cys-47 from the basic spot and oxidized Cys-91 from the acidic spot are generated by artificial oxidation during sample handling processes after isoelectric focusing of 2D-GE. Therefore, it is important to make sure of the origin of cysteine oxidation, if it is physiological or artificial, when an oxidized cysteine residue(s) is identified.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1997

For the purpose of improving the chemotherapeutic index of acyclovir(ACV), it was conjugated with asialofetuin(AF), which has been reported to enter into hepatocytes. When $[H^3]$ acyclovir in itself or its conjugate were administered to rats, the latter was taken up more selectively by the liver than any other tissues. The stability of ACVMP-AF conjugate in phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) and rat liver homogenate showed a pseudo-first order profile. ACVMP-AF, however, was relatively stable in pH7.4 phosphate buffer and rat plasma. The conjugate was added to the isolated rat hepatocyte and cellular uptake was monitored by scintillation counting for up to 6 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. Hepatocytes incubated with the conjugate exhibited radioactivities significantly enhanced over control levels dose-dependently, i.e., a 3-40 fold increase in radioactivities was observed over controls at the conjugate concentrations of $0.1-10\;{\mu}g/ml$. The AUQ in the liver, kidney, spleen, intestine and lung was higher in treatment with ACVMP-AF than that in treatment with ACV. In treatment with ACVMP-AF, the weighted-average overall drug targeting efficiency(Te) for the liver was higher than in treatment with ACV(57.00 vs 13.31 %), and the weighted-average tissue exposure(Re) was 5.03 for the liver. These results indicated that ACVMP-AF conjugate was rapidly taken up by hepatocytes and could be an efficient and selective hepatic targeting system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.607-612
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• 2003

To elucidate the action mechanism of MCS-C2, a novel analogue of toyocamycin and sangivamycin, its effect on the expression of cell cycle-related proteins in the human myelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 was examined using Western blotting and a flow cytometric analysis. MCS-C2, a selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, was found to inhibit cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and inhibits cell cycle progression by inducing the arrest at G1 and G2/M phases, in HL-60 cells. The flow cytometric analysis revealed an appreciable arrest of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle after treatment with MCS-C2. The HL-60 cell population increased gradually from 13% at 0 h, to 28% at 12 h in the G2/M phase, after exposure to $2{\;}\mu\textrm{M}$ MCS-C2. Furthermore, Western blot analysis demonstrated that MCS-C2 induced the cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through the inhibition of pRb phosphorylation. Hypophosphorylated pRb accumulated after treatment with $5{\;}\mu\textrm{M}$ MCS-C2 for 12 h, whereas, the level of hyperphosphorylated pRb was reduced. Thus, treatment of the cell with MCS-C2 suppressed the hyperphosphorylated form of pRb with a commensurate increase in the hypophosphorylated form.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2003

Selective COX (cyclooxygenase)-2 inhibitors including celecoxib have been shown to induce apoptosis and cell cycle changes in various tumor cells. New inhibitors are recently being developed as chemomodulating agents. We evaluated celecoxib and screened 150 synthetic compounds for anti-proliferative activities in vitro. Effects of celecoxib on COX activity, cell growth, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis induction were determined in A549 COX-2 overexpressing human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. The COX inhibition of celecoxib increased with concentration up to 82% at $1\;{\mu}M$ after 24 hr exposure. Forty ${\mu}M$ and $50\;{\mu}M$ of ce1ecoxib induced $G_1$ arrest, and TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells, respectively. Among 150 compounds, several compounds were selected for having greater COX-2 inhibitory activity and higher selectivity than celecoxib with growth inhibitory activity. Celecoxib showed concentration-dependent COX inhibitory activity, and ability to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human NSCLC cells in vitro. Among synthetic analogues screened, several compounds showed promising in vitro activity as COX-2 inhibitory anticancer agents, which warrant further evaluation in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.237-243
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• 2014

Objective : Symptomatic disc degeneration develops from inflammatory reactions in the annulus fibrosus (AF). Although inflammatory mediators during annular inflammation have been studied, the roles of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the production of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) during annular inflammation using an in vitro co-culture system. We also examined the effect of notochordal cells on annular inflammation. Methods : Human AF (hAF) pellet was co-cultured for 48 hours with phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated macrophage-like THP-1 cells. hAF pellet and conditioned media (CM) from co-cultured cells were assayed for MMPs, TIMPs, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyem-linked immunosorbent assay. To evaluate whether notochordal cells affected MMPs or TIMPs production on annular inflammation, hAF co-cultured with notochordal cells from adult New Zealand White rabbits, were assayed. Results : MMP-1, -3, -9; and TIMP-1 levels were significantly increased in CM of hAF co-cultured with macrophage-like cells compared with hAF alone, whereas TIMP-2 and IGF-1 levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05). After macrophage exposure, hAF produced significantly more MMP-1 and -3 and less TIMP-1 and -2. Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ stimulation enhanced MMP-1 and -3 levels, and significantly diminished TIMP-2 levels. Co-culturing with rabbit notochordal cells did not significantly influence MMPs and TIMPs production or COL1A2 gene expression. Conclusion : Our results indicate that macrophage-like cells evoke annular degeneration through the regulation of major degradative enzymes and their inhibitors, produced by hAF, suggesting that the selective regulation of these enzymes provides future targets for symptomatic disc degeneration therapy.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 1997

Glutamate uptake inhibitor, L-trans-pyrrolidine-2, 4-dicarboxylate (PDC, $20{\mu}M$) elevated basal and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, $100{\mu}M$)-induced extracellular glutamate accumulation, while it did not augment kainate $100{\mu}M$-induced glutamate accumulation in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. However, pretreatment with PDC for 1 h significantly reduced NMDA-induced glutamate accumulation, but did not affect kainate-induced response. Pretreatment with glutamate $(5{\mu}M)$ for 1 h also reduced NMDA-induced glutamate accumulation, but did not kainate-induced response. Upon a brief application (3-10 min), PDC did neither induce elevation of intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ nor modulate NMDA-indLiced $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ elevation. Pretreatment with PDC for 1 h reduced NMDA-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ elevation, but it did not reduce kainate-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ elevation. These results suggest that glutamate concentration in synaptic clefts of neurana cells is increased by prolonged exposure (1 h) of the cells to PDC, and the accumulated glutamate subsequently induces selective desensitization of NMDA receptor.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.91-97
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• 2017

Although anti-aging activities of melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, have been reported in senescence-accelerated mouse models and several types of cells, its impact and mechanism on the senescence of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) remains unknown. In this study, we examined the impact of melatonin on cellular premature senescence of HDPCs. Here, we found that melatonin markedly inhibited senescent characteristics of HDPCs after exposure to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), including the increase in senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal)-positive HDPCs and the upregulation of p21 protein, an indicator for senescence. In addition, as melatonin attenuated $H_2O_2$-stimulated phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), while selective inhibition of JNK activity with SP600125 significantly attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced increase in SA-beta-gal activity. Results reveal that melatonin antagonizes premature senescence of HDPCs via JNK pathway. Thus, melatonin may have therapeutic potential to prevent stress-induced premature senescence, possibly correlated with development of dental pulp diseases, and to maintain oral health across the life span.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1201-1207
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• 2020

This study explored whether MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) could remove radioactive Cs⁺ from model nuclear wastewater. Various adsorption tests were performed and the physical aspects of the interaction were investigated. We varied the MXene dosage, Cs⁺ initial concentration, solution pH, solution temperature and exposure time. MXene adsorption exhibited very fast kinetics, based on the fact that equilibrium was achieved within 1 h. MXene exhibited an outstanding adsorption capacity (148 mg g^-1) at adsorbent and adsorbate concentrations of 5 and 2 mg L^-1, respectively, at neutral pH condition (i.e., pH 7). We explored Cs⁺ adsorption by MXene in the presence of four different ions (NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂ and MgCl₂) and three different organic acids (sodium oleate, oxalic acid, and citric acid). The Cs⁺ removal rate changed in the presence of these components; adsorption of Cs⁺ by MXene thus involved ion exchange, supported by both Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We confirmed that MXene was re-usable for at least four cycles. MXene is cost-effective and practical when used to adsorb radionuclides (e.g., Cs⁺) in nuclear wastewater.