• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.474-480
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• 2008

OsMADS1 is a rice MADS box gene necessary for floral development. To identify the key cis-regulatory regions for its expression, we utilized transgenic rice plants expressing GUS fusion constructs. Histochemical analysis revealed that the 5.7-kb OsMADS1 intragenic sequences, encompassing exon 1, intron 1, and a part of exon 2, together with the 1.9-kb 5' upstream promoter region, are required for the GUS expression pattern that coincides with flower-preferential expression of OsMADS1. In contrast, the 5' upstream promoter sequence lacking this intragenic region caused ectopic expression of the reporter gene in both vegetative and reproductive tissues. Notably, incorporation of the intragenic region into the CaMV35S promoter directed the GUS expression pattern similar to that of the endogenous spatial expression of OsMADS1 in flowers. In addition, our transient gene expression assay revealed that the large first intron following the CaMV35S minimal promoter enhances flower-preferential expression of GUS. These results suggest that the OsMADS1 intragenic sequence, largely intron 1, contains a key regulatory region(s) essential for expression.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.611-618
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• 1995

The (Sr$_{1-x}$ .Ca$_{x}$)TiO$_{3}$+0.6[mol%]Nb$_{2}$O$_{5}$ (0.05.leq.x.leq.0.2) ceramics were fabricated to form semiconducting ceramics by sintering at about 1350[.deg. C] in a reducing atmosphere(N$_{2}$ gas). Metal oxides, CuO, was painted on the both surface of the specimens to diffuse to the grain boundary. They were annealed at 1100 [.deg. C] for 2 hours. The 2nd phase formed by thermal diffusing from the surface lead to a very high apparent dielectric constant. According to increase of the frequency as a functional of temperature, all specimens used in this study showed the dielectric relaxation, and the relaxation frequency was above 106 [Hz], it move to low frequency with increasing resistivity of grain. The specimens showed three kinds of conduction mechanisms in the temperature range 25-125 [.deg. C] as the current increased: the region I below 200 [V/cm] shows the ohmic conduction. The region rt between 200 [V/cm] and 2000 [V/cm] can be explained by the Poole-Frenkel emission theory, and the region III above 2000 [V/cm] is dominated by the tunneling effect.fect.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.771-777
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• 2008

Calmodulin (CaM) proteins, members of the EF-hand family of $Ca^{2+}$-binding proteins, represent important relays in plant calcium signals. Here, OsCam1-1 was isolated by PCR amplification from the rice genome. The gene contains an ORF of 450 base pairs with a single intron at the same position found in other plant Cam genes. A promoter region with a TATA box at position-26 was predicted and fused to a gus reporter gene, and this construct was used to produce transgenic rice by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. GUS activity was observed in all organs examined and throughout tissues in cross-sections, but activity was strongest in the vascular bundles of leaves and the vascular cylinders of roots. To examine the properties of OsCaM1-1, the encoding cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli. The electrophoretic mobility shift when incubated with $Ca^{2+}$ indicates that recombinant OsCaM1-1 is a functional $Ca^{2+}$-binding protein. In addition, OsCaM1-1 bound the CaMKII target peptide confirming its likely functionality as a calmodulin.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.486-487
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• 2007

$Bi_2Sr_2Ca_{n-1}Cu_nO_x$(n=0, 1, 2) thin films have been fabricated by co-deposition at an ultra-low growth rate using ion beam sputtering(IBS) method. The growth rates of the films was set in the region from 0.17 to 0.27 nm/min. MgO(100) was used as a substrate. In order to appreciate stable existing region of Bi 2212 phase with temperature and ozone pressure, the substrate temperature was between 655 and $820^{\circ}C$ and the highly condensed ozone gas pressure in vacuum chamber was varied between $2{\times}10^{-6}{\sim}4{\times}10^{-5}$ Torr. Bi 2212 phase appeared in the temperature range of 750 and $795^{\circ}C$ and single phase of Bi 2201 existed in the lower region than $785^{\circ}C$. Whereas, $PO_3$ dependance on structural formation was scarcely observed regardless of the pressure variation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2000

Three cDNA clones encoding rice calmodulin (CaM) isoforms (OsCaM-1, OsCaM-2, and OsCaM-3) were isolated from a rice cDNA library constructed from suspension-cultured rice cells treated with fungal elicitor. The coding regions of OsCaM-1 and O.sCaM-2 were 89% homologous at DNA Ievel, whereas the 5' and 3' untranslated regions were highly divergent. The polypeptides encoded by OsCaM-1 and OsCaM-2 was identical except two conservative substitution at position 8 and 75. The coding region of OsCaM-3 was consist of a typical conserved CaM domain and an additional C-terminal extension. The amino acid sequence of conserved CaM domain of OsCaM-3 shared only 86% identity with that OsCaM-1. The OsCaM-3 cDNA is belongs to a novel group of calmodulin gene due to its C-terminal extension of 38 amino acids, a large number of which are positively charged. The extension also contains a C-terminal CaaX-box prenylation site (CVlL). Genomic Southern analysis revealed at least six copies of CaM or CaM-related genes, suggesting that calmodulin may be represented by a small multigene family in the rice geneme. Expression of OsCaM gene was examined through Northern blot analysis. Transcript level of OsCaM-3 was increased by treatment with a fungal elicitor, whereas the OsCaM-1 and OsCaM-2 genes did not respond to the fungal elicitor. The expression of OsCaM-3 gene was remarkable inhibited in the rice cells treated with cyclosporine A, calcinurin inhibitor.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2004

The inductive coupling theory in serially stacked $Bi_2$$Sr_2$$CaCu_2$$O_{8+x}$ intrinsic Josephson junctions predicts that the lattice structure of the Josephson vortices along the c axis gradually changes from the triangular to the rectangular lattice with increasing the vortex velocity. This lattice transition appears as voltage jumps or sub-branch splitting in the Josephson vortex-flow region of current-voltage characteristics (IVC). We report the IVC in external magnetic fields from 2 to 4 T. The stack, with the lateral size of 1.4${\times}$15 $u\m^2$, was fabricated by using the double-side cleaving technique. The sub-branches in the Josephson vortex-flow region, corresponding to a plasma propagation mode in serially coupled intrinsic Josephson junctions, were also observed in the range of 2∼4T. Switching from one branch to another in Josephson vortex-flow region suggests the structural transition of the moving Josephson vortex lattice.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.227-241
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• 2004

Objective : This study was performed to investigate neuroprotective effects of Bupleuri Radix against oxidative and ischemic damages. Method : To observe the neuroprotective effects against ischemic damage, ischemic insult was induced by oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) on organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSC) from 1 week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence-stained neuronal dead-cell areas, area percentages and TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells in CA1 and dentate gyrus, and LDH levels in culture media of the OHSC were measured following Bupleuri Radix extract treatment. Result : The following results were obtained: (1) The $5\;{\mu}g/ml$ of Bupleuri Radix treatment demonstrated a significant decrease in PI fluorescence-stained neuronal dead-cell areas and area percentage in CA1 region of the OHSC from 18 hrs to 48 hrs following the OGD. The $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of Bupleuri Radix treatment was also significant from 6 hrs to 48 hrs following the OGD and was more effective. (2) The 5 and $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of Bupleuri Radix treatment demonstrated a significant decrease in PI fluorescence-stained neuronal dead-cell areas and area percentage in DG region of the OHSC from 6 hrs to 48 hrs following the OGD. The $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ treatment was more effective than the $5\;{\mu}g/ml$ treatment. (3) Bupleuri Radix treatment demonstrated a significant decrease in TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells in CA1 region (with 5 and $50\;{\mu}g/ml$) and in DG region (with $50\;{\mu}g/ml$) of the OHSC damaged by the OGD. (4) Bupleuri Radix treatment demonstrated a significant decrease in LDH concentrations in culture media of the OHSC damaged by the OGD. Conclusion : These results suggest that Bupleuri Radix has neuroprotective and control effects on inflammatory and immune responses where there has been ischemic damage to the central nervous system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.244-255
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• 2019

Xylose isomerase (XI; E.C. 5.3.1.5) catalyzes the isomerization of xylose to xylulose, which can be used to produce bioethanol through fermentation. Therefore, XI has recently gained attention as a key catalyst in the bioenergy industry. Here, we identified, purified, and characterized a XI (PbXI) from the psychrophilic soil microorganism, Paenibacillus sp. R4. Surprisingly, activity assay results showed that PbXI is not a cold-active enzyme, but displays optimal activity at $60^{\circ}C$. We solved the crystal structure of PbXI at $1.94-{\AA}$ resolution to investigate the origin of its thermostability. The PbXI structure shows a $({\beta}/{\alpha})_8$-barrel fold with tight tetrameric interactions and it has three divalent metal ions (CaI, CaII, and CaIII). Two metal ions (CaI and CaII) located in the active site are known to be involved in the enzymatic reaction. The third metal ion (CaIII), located near the ${\beta}4-{\alpha}6$ loop region, was newly identified and is thought to be important for the stability of PbXI. Compared with previously determined thermostable and mesophilic XI structures, the ${\beta}1-{\alpha}2$ loop structures near the substrate binding pocket of PbXI were remarkably different. Site-directed mutagenesis studies suggested that the flexible ${\beta}1-{\alpha}2$ loop region is essential for PbXI activity. Our findings provide valuable insights that can be applied in protein engineering to generate low-temperature purpose-specific XI enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2008

The phase transformations and luminescent properties of Eu-doped $Ca_{1-x}Sr_xAl_2O_4$ phosphors were investigated. $Ca_{1-x}Sr_xAl_2O_4:Eu^{2+}$ phosphors were synthesized by a solid-state reaction with a flux, $H_3BO_3$. A phase transformation from monoclinic $CaAl_2O_4$ to monoclinic $SrAl_2O_4$ was observed as the x values increased. A high-temperature hexagonal phase of $SrAl_2O_4$ was formed during this transformation as an intermediate phase under an $H_2$ atmosphere due to oxygen vacancies; this did not occur in an air atmosphere. Accordingly, the emission spectra shifted from a blue region to a green region as x increased.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2008

In a previous study, we showed that Cecropin A (1-8)-Magainin 2 (1-12) hybrid peptide (CA-MA)'s analogue, Anal P5, exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Anal P5, designed by flexible region (positions 9, 10)-substitution, Lys- (positions 4, 8, 14, 15) and Leu- (positions 5, 6, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20) substitutions, showed an enhanced antimicrobial and antitumor activity without hemolysis. The primary objective of the present study was to gain insight into the relevant mechanisms of antimicrobial activities of Anal P5 by using flow cytometric analysis. Anal P5 exhibits strong antifungal activity in a salt concentration independent manner. In addition, Anal P5 causes significant morphological alterations of the bacterial surfaces as shown by scanning electron microscopy, supporting its antibacterial activity. Its potent antibiotic activity suggests that Anal P5 is an excellent candidate as a lead compound for the development of novel antibiotic agents.