Intramolecular excimer formation of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py-3-Py) and fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) were used to investigate the effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the bulk bilayer fluidity of the plasma membrane vesicles isolated from cultured osteoblasts (OB-PMV). In a dose-dependent manner, rat PTH-(1-34) [rPTH-(1-34)] increased the excimer to monomer fluorescence intensity ratio (I'/I) of Py-3-Py and decreased the anisotropy (r) of DPH in OB-PMV. This indicates that PTH increased both the lateral and rotational diffusion of the probes in OB-PMY. Selective quenching of DPH fluorescence by trinitrophenyl groups was utilized to examine the transbilayer fluidity asymmetry of OB-PMV. The anisotropy, limiting anisotropy, and order parameter of DPH in the inner monolayer were 0.024, 0.032, and 0.062 greater than calculated for the outer monolayer of OB-PMY. Selective quenching of DPH fluorescence by trinitrophenyl groups was also utilized to examine the transbilayer effects of PTH on the fluidity of OB-PMV. rPTH-(1-34) had a greater fluidizing effect on the outer monolayer as compared to the inner monolayer of OB-PMV. Thus, it has been proven that PTH exhibits a selective rather than nonselective fluidizing effect within transbilayer domains of OB-PMV.

Heterosigma akashiwo has been reported as red-tide causing phytoplankton in the Korean coastal area during summer when they are exposed to high light. It also shows photosynthetic adaptability to strong light during culture in the laboratory. On the basis of these observations, we tried to find out some genes specifically expressed in Heterosimga akashiwo during exposure to high light, assuming that they might have some resistant mechanisms associated with light adaptation. For this purpose, we carried out DD-PCR to detect differentially expressed mRNAs from cells that had been illuminated under high light for 3 days. We found eight cDNA clones that had been expressed specificically for high light. When they were further screened by reverse Northern hybridization, three of them were identified to be positive cDNA clones. When these cDNA fragments were subjected to DNA sequencing and then their base sequences were compared to GenBank database, one of them showed sequence homology 86% identical to the partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene of eubacterium CRO-18.

Studies have been conducted to explore single electron transfer (SET) promoted photocyclization reactions of ($\omega$-phthalimidoalkylthio)acetic acids (alkyl=ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n -hexyl and n-nonyl). Photocyclizations occur in methanol in modest yields to produce cyclized products in which phthalimide carbonyl carbon is bonded to the carbon of side chain in place of the carboxylic group. The initially formed cyclized products undergo efficient water eliminations to produce enthiol ethers in secondary ground state reactions.

Susceptibility to low temperature photoinhibition in photosynthetic apparatus was compared among three cucumber cultivars, Gahachungjang (GH), Banbaekjijeo (BB) and Gaeryangsymji (GR). By chilling in the light for 6 h, a sustained decrease in the potential quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and the oxidizable P700 contents was observed, and the decrease was less in GH than in BB and GR. Although the difference was small, some $\Phi_{PSII}$ remained in GH after light-chilling for 6 h indicating that a few electrons can flow around photosystem II(PSII). As a consequence, the primary electron acceptor of PSII, $Q_{A}$, was reduced slowly and was not fully reduced after light-chilling for 6 h in GH. Although the amplitude was small, the development of NPQ was also faster in GH, indicating a higher capacity for non-photochemical energy dissipation. The relative fraction of a fast relaxing component of NPQ (qf) was higher in GH. After light-chilling for 5 h, the values of qf in BB and GR became much smaller than that in GH, indicating BB and GR suffered more significant uncoupling of ATPase and/or irreversible damages in PSII. When fluorescence induction transients were recorded after chilling, significant differences in quenching coefficients (qQ and qN) were observed among the three cultivars.

Several styrylquinolium salts were synthesized to investigate their absorption and thermal properties, which had five different p-aminobenzene units and three different counter ions (iodide, perchlorate, and hexafluorophosphorate anion), respectively. Hydroxy, methoxy, and methyl group in the meta position to the amino group led to bathochromic shift, while Ν-ethyl-Ν-chloroethylamino unit instead of Ν,Ν-diethylamino unit resulted in hypsochromic shift. A dye having a methoxy group in the meta position to the amino group had the highest molar extinction coefficient ($\xi$), while a dye carrying chloro group in Ν-alkyl chains had the lowest $\xi$. The type of counter ions had no effect on spectral properties like the maximum absorption wavelength and $\xi$. All styryl dyes had exothermic peaks at decomposition in DSC curves. Among these styryl dyes, S2 series with perchlorate anions showed the strongest exothermic decomposition. From TGA spectra, S3 series with hexafluorophosphorate anions had the best thermal stability and the sharpest threshold at thermal decomposition.

Three-Dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship(QSAR) has been investigated over 67 flavonoids to correlate and predict GI$\sub$50/ values. The partial least-squares(PLS) model was performed to calculate the activity of each derivatives, and this was compared with the actual value. The results of the cross-validated(${\gamma}$$^2$=0.997) values show that cytotoxic activities play an important role which is in good agreement with the observed GI$\sub$50/ values.

We have attempted to determine the Germanium ion (G $e^{4+}$) effect on the human body by observing the formation of artificial lipid membrane and photolysis in the mineral water containing G $e^{4+}$ ion. The artificial lipid membrane is prepared by using the phospholipid in the Germanium water and the formation efficiency of the liposomes is compared with those obtained in the plain mineral water without G $e^{4+}$ ion. This work shows that the liposomes are formed in the Germanium water better than in the non-Germanium water. The liposomes can be photolyzed by superoxide anion ( $O_{2-}$$^{.}$) produced in the presence of some peptide such as NAT (N-acethyl-L-tryptophan). However, this is inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD), and it was found that the activity of SOD on the inhibition of the liposomes oxidative damage is higher in the Germanium water than in the non-Germanium water. It is concluded that the G $e^{4+}$ ion in mineral water helps the formation of new cell as well as elevation of SOD activity for the lipid oxidation.n.