• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1279-1284
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• 2014

The binding of TATA-binding protein (TBP) to the TATA-box containing promoter region is aided by many other transcriptional factors including TFIIA and TFIIB. The mechanistic insight into the assembly of RNA polymerase II preinitation complex (PIC) has been gained by either directly altering a function of target protein or perturbing molecular interactions using drugs, RNAi, or aptamers. Aptamers have been found particularly useful for studying a role of a subset of PIC on transcription for their ability to inhibit specific molecular interactions. One major hurdle to the wide use of aptamers as specific inhibitors arises from the difficulty with traditional assays to validate and determine specificity, affinity, and binding epitopes for aptamers against targets. Here, using a technique called the bio-layer interferometry (BLI) designed for a label-free, real-time, and multiplexed detection of molecular interactions, we studied the assembly of a subset of PIC, TBP binding to TATA DNA, and two distinct classes of aptamers against TPB in regard to their ability to inhibit TBP binding to TFIIA or TATA DNA. Using BLI, we measured not only equilibrium binding constants ($K_D$), which were overall in close agreement with those obtained by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, but also kinetic constants of binding ($k_{on}$ and $k_{off}$), differentiating aptamers of comparable KDs by their difference in binding kinetics. The assay developed in this study can readily be adopted for high throughput validation of candidate aptamers for specificity, affinity, and epitopes, providing both equilibrium and kinetic information for aptamer interaction with targets.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.348-351
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• 2011

In this research, we developed a sensor system which can easily detect several chelating agents using polydiacetylene(PDA) vesicles. In comparison to other sensors, PDA based sensor has several advantages. First, detection method is much simpler and faster because it does not require any labeling step in the experiment procedure. Second, significant color-transition from blue to red based upon external stimulus allows us the detection by naked eyes. Finally, it is also possible to perform quantitative analysis of the concentration of the chelating agent by measuring the colorimetric response. In this paper, five types of chelating agents were used, including EDTA, EGTA, NTA, DCTA and DTPA. Among them, EDTA and DCTA triggered especially strong color-transition. In conclusion, this study has led to a successful development of a color transition-based PDA sensor system for easy and rapid detection of chelating agents.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.509-518
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• 2019

To monitor the levels of antimicrobials, allergens, pathogens and other contaminants in foods meant for human consumption, it is imperative to have quick, accurate and low-cost tests. Advanced techniques (e.g. label-free biosensor assays) have been developed over the past 10-15 years to solve some of these problems. As biosensors, immunosensors can provide real-time measurements, a high degree of automation, and improved throughput and sensitivity. By comparison with conventional methods, immunosensors are less expensive, less sophisticated physicochemical instruments that require less time for analysis while also being more user-friendly. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge about immunosensors, their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the future of these biosensors in food safety.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.815-819
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• 2013

Micropatterns of streptavidin and human epidermal carcinoma A431 cells were successfully imaged, as received and without any labeling, using cluster $Au_3{^+}$ ion beam-based time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) together with a principal component analysis (PCA). Three different analysis ion beams ($Ga^+$, $Au^+$ and $Au_3{^+}$) were compared to obtain label-free TOF-SIMS chemical images of micropatterns of streptavidin, which were subsequently used for generating cell patterns. The image of the total positive ions obtained by the $Au_3{^+}$ primary ion beam corresponded to the actual image of micropatterns of streptavidin, whereas the total positive-ion images by $Ga^+$ or $Au^+$ primary ion beams did not. A PCA of the TOF-SIMS spectra was initially performed to identify characteristic secondary ions of streptavidin. Chemical images of each characteristic ion were reconstructed from the raw data and used in the second PCA run, which resulted in a contrasted - and corrected - image of the micropatterns of streptavidin by the $Ga^+$ and $Au^+$ ion beams. The findings herein suggest that using cluster-ion analysis beams and multivariate data analysis for TOF-SIMS chemical imaging would be an effectual method for producing label-free chemical images of micropatterns of biomolecules, including proteins and cells.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 2011

The effects of cations are very important in field-effect transistors (FETs) type DNA sensors detecting the intrinsic negative charge between single-stranded DNA and double-stranded DNA without labeling, because the intrinsic negative charge of DNA is neutralized by cations in electrolyte solution. We consider the Debye length, which depends on the concentration of cations in solution, to detect DNA hybridization based on the intrinsic negative charge of DNA. The Debye length is longer in buffer solution with a lower concentration of NaCl and the intrinsic negative charge of DNA is more effective on the channel surface in longer Debye length solution. The shifts in the gate voltage by DNA hybridization with complementary target DNA are 21 mV in 1 mM NaCl buffer solution, 7.2 mV in 10 mM NaCl buffer solution, and 5.1 mV in 100 mM NaCl buffer solution. The sensitivity of FETs to detect DNA hybridization based on charge detection without labeling depends on the Debye length.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1345-1358
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• 2017

The impact of overproduction of a heterologous protein on the metabolic system of host Lactococcus lactis was investigated. The protein expression profiles of L. lactis IL1403 containing two near-identical plasmids that expressed high- and low-level of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) were examined via shotgun proteomics. Analysis of the two strains via high-throughput LC-MS/MS proteomics identified the expression of 294 proteins. The relative amount of each protein in the proteome of both strains was determined by label-free quantification using the spectral counting method. Although expression level of most proteins were similar, several significant alterations in metabolic network were identified in the high GFP-producing strain. These changes include alterations in the pyruvate fermentation pathway, oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, and de novo synthesis pathway for pyrimidine RNA. Expression of enzymes for the synthesis of dTDP-rhamnose and N-acetylglucosamine from glucose was suppressed in the high GFP strain. In addition, enzymes involved in the amino acid synthesis or interconversion pathway were downregulated. The most noticeable changes in the high GFP-producing strain were a 3.4-fold increase in the expression of stress response and chaperone proteins and increase of caseinolytic peptidase family proteins. Characterization of these host expression changes witnessed during overexpression of GFP was might suggested the metabolic requirements and networks that may limit protein expression, and will aid in the future development of lactococcal hosts to produce more heterologous protein.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.140-150
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• 2007

A simple, label-free microfluidic cell purification method is presented for separation of cancer cells by exploiting difference in cell adhesion. To maximize the adhesion difference, three types of polymeric nanostructures (50nm pillars, 50nm perpendicular and 50nm parallel lines with respect to the direction of flow) were fabricated using UV-assisted capillary moulding and included inside a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channel bonded onto glass substrate. The adhesion force of human breast epithelial cells (MCF10A) and human breast carcinoma (MCF7) was measured independently by injecting each cell line into the microfluidic device followed by culture for a period of time (e.g., one, two, and three hours). Then, the cells bound to the floor of a microfluidic channel were detached by increasing the flow rate of medium in a stepwise fashion. It was found that the adhesion force of MCF10A was always higher than that of MCF cells regardless of culture time and surface nanotopography at all flow rates, resulting in a label-free detection and separation of cancer cells. For the cell types used in our study, the optimum separation was found for 2 hours culture on 50nm parallel line pattern followed by flow-induced detachment at a flow rate of $300{\mu}l/min$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2020

Background: The cellular senescence of primary cultured cells is an irreversible process characterized by growth arrest. Restoration of senescence by ginsenosides has not been explored so far. Rg3(S) treatment markedly decreased senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in senescent human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). However, the underlying mechanism of this effect of Rg3(S) on the senescent HDFs remains unknown. Methods: We performed a label-free quantitative proteomics to identify the altered proteins in Rg3(S)-treated senescent HDFs. Upregulated proteins induced by Rg3(S) were validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analyses. Results: Finally, 157 human proteins were identified, and variable peroxiredoxin (PRDX) isotypes were highly implicated by network analyses. Among them, the mitochondrial PRDX3 was transcriptionally and translationally increased in response to Rg3(S) treatment in senescent HDFs in a time-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our proteomic approach provides insights into the partial reversing effect of Rg3 on senescent HDFs through induction of antioxidant enzymes, particularly PRDX3.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.143-153
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• 2019

Background: Ginseng is one of the well-known medicinal plants, exhibiting diverse medicinal effects. Its roots possess anticancer and antiaging properties and are being used in the medical systems of East Asian countries. It is grown in low-light and low-temperature conditions, and its growth is strongly inhibited at temperatures above $25^{\circ}C$. However, the molecular responses of ginseng to heat stress are currently poorly understood, especially at the protein level. Methods: We used a shotgun proteomics approach to investigate the effect of heat stress on ginseng leaves. We monitored their photosynthetic efficiency to confirm physiological responses to a high-temperature stress. Results: The results showed a reduction in photosynthetic efficiency on heat treatment ($35^{\circ}C$) starting at 48 h. Label-free quantitative proteome analysis led to the identification of 3,332 proteins, of which 847 were differentially modulated in response to heat stress. The MapMan analysis showed that the proteins with increased abundance were mainly associated with antioxidant and translation-regulating activities, whereas the proteins related to the receptor and structural-binding activities exhibited decreased abundance. Several other proteins including chaperones, G-proteins, calcium-signaling proteins, transcription factors, and transfer/carrier proteins were specifically downregulated. Conclusion: These results increase our understanding of heat stress responses in the leaves of ginseng at the protein level, for the first time providing a resource for the scientific community.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2023

To distinguish cancer cells from normal cells, H&E (Hematoxylin & Eosin) staining is required. Pathological staining requires a lot of money and time. Recently, a digital dyeing method has been introduced to reduce such cost and time. In this paper, we propose a novel digital pathology algorithms. The first algorithm is the Pair method. This method learns the dyed phase image and unstained amplitude image taken by FPM (Fourier Ptychographic Microscopy) and converts it into a dyed amplitude image. The second algorithm is the unpair method. This method use the stained and unstained fluorescence microscopic images for modeling. In this study, digital staining was performed using a generative adversarial network (GAN). From the experimental results, we noticed that both the pair and unpair algorithms shows the excellent performance.