• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.125-129
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• 2012

By employing soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and soft x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), the electronic structures of molecule-based nano bioparticles, such as Helicobacter pylori ferritin (H. pylori ferritin), Heme, $NaM[Fe(CN)_6]{\cdot}H_2O$-type Prussian Blue (M=Co, Ni) analogue, have been investigated. The measured Fe 2p XAS spectra reveal that Fe ions are trivalent ($Fe^{3+}$) in H. pylori ferritins, while they are in the $Fe^{2+}-Fe^{3+}$ mixed-valent states in $NaM[Fe(CN)_6]{\cdot}H_2O$ Prussian Blue analogues (M=Co, Ni). According to the Fe 2p XMCD spectrum of high-state H. pylori ferritin, all the $Fe^{3+}$ ions have the same local symmetry and their magnetic moments are aligned in the same direction. It is also found that the Fe 3d orbitals in $NaM[Fe(CN)_6]{\cdot}H_2O$ have a strong covalent bonding to $(CN)^-$ ligands, but with a very weak bonding to the 2p orbitals of O ligands.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.2117-2124
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• 2013

The binding properties and sequence selectivities of ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ (bip = 4,4'-biphenylene (imidazo [4,4-f][1,10]phenanthroline) complexes with $poly[d(A-T)_2]$ and $poly[d(G-C)_2]$ were investigated using conventional spectroscopic methods. When bound to $poly[d(A-T)_2]$, a large positive circular dichroism (CD) spectrum was induced in absorption region of the bridging moiety for both the ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complexes, which suggested that the bridging moiety sits in the minor groove of the polynucleotide. As luminescence intensity increased, decay times became longer and complexes were well-protected from the negatively charged iodide quencher compared to that in the absence of $poly[d(A-T)_2]$. These luminescence measurements indicated that Ru(II) enantiomers were in a less polar environment compared to that in water and supported by minor groove binding. An angle of $45^{\circ}$ between the molecular plane of the bridging moiety of the ${\Delta}{\Delta}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complex and the local DNA helix axis calculated from reduced linear dichroism ($LD^r$) spectrum further supported the minor groove binding mode. In the case of ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complex, this angle was $55^{\circ}$, suggesting a tilt of DNA stem near the binding site and bridging moiety sit in the minor groove of the $poly[d(A-T)_2]$. In contrast, neither ${\Delta}{\Delta}$-nor ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complex produced significant CD or $LD^r$ signal in the absorption region of the bridging moiety. Luminescence measurements revealed that both the ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complexes were partially accessible to the $I^-$ quencher. Furthermore, decay times became shorter when bis-Ru(II) complexes bound to $poly[d(G-C)_2]$. These observations suggest that both the ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complexes bind at the surface of $poly[d(G-C)_2]$, probably electrostatically to phosphate group. The results indicate that ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ are able to discriminate between AT and GC base pairs.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.951-960
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• 1993

$Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$X_2]^+$(3,2,3-tet = 4,7-diazadecane-1,10-diamine, $X_2\;=\;Cl_2,\;(NO_2)Cl,\;Br_2,\;(NO_2)Br,\;(NO_3)_2)$ complexes was investigated in aqueous solution. The products and the reaction mechanism were confirmed by chromatography, UV/Vis. spectrum, and circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. From the results, $Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation of 3,2,3-tet system has been produced cis-${\beta}$ complex via trans complex. The kinetic studies on $Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation of trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$Cl_2]^+$ complex and trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$(NO_2)Cl]^+$ complex were also carried out to study the reaction mechanism. The results show that trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$Cl_2]^+$ complex undergoes the D(dissociative)-mechanism and trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$(NO_2)Cl]^+$ complex $I_d$(interchange dissociavite)-mechanism. In order to confirm steric course for the reaction mechanism, $Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation on trans-[Co(R,R-3,2,3-tet)$Cl_2]^+$ complex to which chiral R,R-3,2,3-tet was coordinated instead of the racemic(R,R:S,S) 3,2,3-tet was used has been examined by CD spectrum. From the results, the final complex was confirmed to be ${\Delta}-cis-{\beta}$-[Co(R,R-3,2,3-tet)$(OH_2)_2]^{3+}$ complex indicating the chirality was retained through whole process.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2007

Functional elements of the conserved helix 7 in the poreforming domain of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$- endotoxins have not yet been clearly identified. Here, we initially performed alanine substitutions of four highly conserved aromatic residues, $Trp^{243}$, $Phe^{246}$, $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$, in helix 7 of the Cry4Ba mosquito-larvicidal protein. All mutant toxins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli as 130-kDa protoxins at levels comparable to the wild-type. Bioassays against Stegomyia aegypti mosquito larvae revealed that only W243A, Y249A or F264A mutant toxins displayed a dramatic decrease in toxicity. Further mutagenic analysis showed that replacements with an aromatic residue particularly at $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ still retained the high-level toxin activity. In addition, a nearly complete loss in larvicidal activity was found for Y249L/F264L or F264A/ Y249A double mutants, confirming the involvement in toxicity of both aromatic residues which face towards the same direction. Furthermore, the Y249L/F264L mutant was found to be structurally stable upon toxin solubilisation and trypsin digestion, albeit a small change in the circular dichroism spectrum. Altogether, the present study provides for the first time an insight into the highly conserved aromaticity of $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ within helix 7 playing an important role in larvicidal activity of the Cry4Ba toxin.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.106-111
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• 2015

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) survives in acidic and fluctuating pH conditions of the stomach. The pH effect on H. pylori proteins is important for the advanced understanding of its evolution and viability, although this bacterium has the molecular machinery that neutralizes the acidic condition. HP1492 is known as a conserved NifU-like protein from H. pylori. NifU is a nitrogen fixation protein that mediates the transfer of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster to iron-sulfur proteins like ferredoxin. Commonly, the monomeric reduced state of NifU can be converted to the dimeric oxidized state by intermolecular disulfide bond formation. Because it remains unclear that HP1492 actually behaves as known NifU protein, we first found that this protein can adopt both oxidized and reduced forms using size exclusion chromatography. Circular dichroism experiment showed that HP1492 is relatively well-structured at pH 6.5, compared to other pH conditions. On the basis of the backbone resonance assignment of HP1492, we further characterized the residues that are sensitive to pH using NMR spectroscopy. These residues showing large chemical shift changes could be mapped onto the secondary structure of the protein. Our results could provide the foundation for structural and biophysical studies on a wide spectrum of NifU proteins.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2003

Human CD99 is a ubiquitous 32-kDa transmembrane protein encoded by the mic2 gene. The major cellular functions of CD99 protein are related to homotypic cell adhension, apoptosis, vesicular protein transport, and differentiation of thymocytes or T cells. Recently it has been reported that expression of a splice variant of CD99 transmembrane protein (Type I and Type II) increases invasive ability of human breast cancer cells. To understand structural basis for cellular functions of CD99 (Type I), we have initiated studies on hCD99$^{TMcytoI}$ and hCD99$^{cytoI}$ using circular dichroism (CD) and multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. CD spectrum of hCD99$^{TMcytoI}$ in the presence of 200mM DPC and CHAPS displayed an existence $\alpha$-helical conformation. The solution structure of hCD99$^{cytoI}$ determined by NMR is composed of one N-terminal $\alpha$-helix, $\alpha$A, two C-terminal short $\alpha$-helix segments, $\alpha$B and $\alpha$C. While $\alpha$A and $\alpha$B are connected by the long flexible loop, $\alpha$B and $\alpha$C connected by type III$\beta$-turn. Although it has been rarely figured out the correlation between structure and functional mechanism of hCD99$^{TMcytoI}$ and hCD99$^{cytoI}$, there is possibility of dimerization or oligomerization. In addition, the feasible mechanism of hCD99$^{cytoI}$ is that it could have intramolecular interaction between the N- and C- terminal domain through large flexible AB loop.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1479-1484
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• 2010

Photosynthesis uses light energy to drive the oxidation of water at an oxygen-evolving catalytic site within photosystem II (PSII). Chlorophyll binding by the photosystem II subunit S protein, PsbS, was found to be necessary for energy-dependent quenching (qE), the major energy-dependent component of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in Arabidopsis thaliana. It is proposed that PsbS acts as a trigger of the conformational change that leads to the establishment of nonphotochemical quenching. However, the exact structure and function of PsbS in PSII are still unknown. Here, we clone and express the recombinant PsbS gene from Arabidopsis thaliana in E. coli and purify the resulting homogeneous protein. We used various biochemical and biophysical techniques to elucidate PsbS structure and function, including circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, and DSC. The protein shows optimal stability at $4^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5. The CD spectra of PsbS show that the conformational changes of the protein were strongly dependent on pH conditions. The CD curve for PsbS at pH 10.5 curve had the deepest negative peak and the peak of PsbS at pH 4.5 was the least negative. The fluorescence emission spectrum of the purified PsbS protein was also measured, and the ${\lambda}_{max}$ was found to be at 328 nm. PsbS revealed some structural changes under varying temperature and oxygen gas condition.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2022

To assess the feasibility of silk sericin for non-textile application, the storage stability and biological safety of sericin were examined. It was extracted at 37℃, 70℃, 100℃, and 121℃ for 1, 3, and 5 h to elucidate the effect of extraction condition on the stability and safety of silk sericin. The solubility was increased till approximately 26% with extraction temperature of 121℃ for 1 h. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that the molecular weight distribution depended on the extraction conditions. Extracted sericin displayed typical UV absorption bands upon spectrometric analysis. To examine the reproducibility of its obtained conformation, sericin was extracted thrice and its circular dichroism (CD) spectra was measured each time. Most CD spectra showed reproducibility regardless of temperature and time except under 100℃ extraction condition. The diversity of CD spectrum showed gradual reduction and was finally coincident with extraction time from 1 to 5 h. Notably, sericin has a negative peak of approximately 200 nm attributed to random coil conformation, regardless of extraction condition. However, at the 100℃ extraction condition, sericin showed both bands to be negative bands of approximately 200 and 220 nm, respectively. Sericin was centrifuged to determine the stability of storage conditions. The sericin extracted at 100℃ and 121℃ for 1 h was found to form gel rapidly within 1 h, but at 121℃ condition, the gel fraction was approximately 20% within 1 h which retained its phase regardless of storage time. The gel fraction of sericin extracted at 100℃ for 5 h increased with time, however at the 121℃ for 5 h condition, the gel fraction was measured to be less than 10% regardless of increase in storage time. Petriflim^TM AC plates test showed that sericin was safe from aerobic bacteria activity by extraction under high temperature.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2006

Antheraea yamamai silk fibroin powder was prepared by treatment with HCl. The prepared A. yamamai fibroin hydrolysate was characterized by gel filtration chromatography, amino acid analysis, X-ray diffractometry, circular dichroism analysis, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetry. The average molecular weight of A. yamamai powder was about 430 and the major amino acids composed of the powder were Ala and Ser. According to XRD analysis, A. yamamai silk powder showed sharp diffraction peaks at $2{\theta}=20.34^{\circ}\;and\;31.5^{\circ}$. CD spectrum showed a peak around 220 nm and a should 215 nm, assigned to ${\alpha}-helix\;and\;{\beta}-sheet$ structure, respectively. DSC and TGA showed that the maximum degradation temperature of powder was around $250{\sim}270^{\circ}C$. Moreover, no harmful heavy metal was contained in the A. yamamai silk fibroin hydrolysate.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2007

Mutations in the cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS) gene cause homocystinuria, the most frequent inherited disorder in sulfur metabolism. CBS is the unique enzyme using both heme and pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) for activity. Among the reported 140 mutations, one of the most common disease-causing alterations in human CBS is G307S mutation. To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of G307S by spectroscopic methods, we engineered the full length and the truncated G247S mutation of yeast CBS that is corresponding mutation to human G307S. Yeast CBS does not contain heme and thus gives a merit to study the spectroscopic properties. The UV-visible spectra of the purified full length and the truncated G247S yeast CBSs showed the total absence of PLP in the protein. The absence of PLP in G247S mutation was also confirmed by the PLP-cyanide adduct formation experiment, which was conducted by the incubation of the purified enzyme with KCN. The adducts were detected using a circular dichroism (CD) and a spectrofluorimeter. Radio isotope activity assay of full length and truncated G247S proteins also gave no activity. Our yeast G247S mutation data suggested that G307S might make the distortion of the active site so that cofactor PLP and substrate can not fit inside the active site. Our yeast CBS study addressed the reason why the G307S mutation in human CBS makes the enzyme inactive that consequently leads to severe clinical phenotype.