• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.270-277
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• 2006

Helices 4 and 5 of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4Ba $\delta$-endotoxin have been shown to be important determinants for mosquito-larvicidal activity, likely being involved in membrane-pore formation. In this study, the Cry4Ba mutant protein containing an additional engineered tryptic cleavage site was used to produce the $\alpha4$-$\alpha5$ hairpin peptide by an efficient alternative strategy. Upon solubilization of toxin inclusions expressed in Escherichia coli and subsequent digestion with trypsin, the 130-kDa mutant protoxin was processed to protease-resistant fragments of ca. 47, 10 and 7 kDa. The 7-kDa fragment was identified as the $\alpha4$-loop-$\alpha5$ hairpin via N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry, and was successfully purified by size-exclusion FPLC and reversed-phase HPLC. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy, the 7-kDa peptide was found to exist predominantly as an $\alpha$-helical structure. Membrane perturbation studies by using fluorimetric calcein-release assays revealed that the 7-kDa helical hairpin is highly active against unilamellar liposomes compared with the 65-kDa activated full-length toxin. These results directly support the role of the $\alpha4$-loop-$\alpha5$ hairpin in membrane perturbation and pore formation of the full-length Cry4Ba toxin.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.278-278
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• 1996

Judging from hydrocortisone concentration in dosing area, the extent of absorption was reduced in the liposome-gel formulation. However, higher and sustained skin concentrations of hydrocortisone were achieved for the liposome-gel as compared to the ointment. Drug concentration in both viable and deep skin reached its maximum within 0.5 h after application of both formulations to both skin types. Drug concentrations in both skins from the ointment declined with time, while those from the liposome-gel were greatly sustained. The sustainment by the liposome-gel was more remarkable in the viable skin than in the deep skin. Drug concentration in the viable skin could be maintained at a nearly constant level for over 8 h by applying the liposome-gel. As a result, a 5-fold higher viable skin drug concentration was obtained from the liposome-gel than from the ointment at 8 h after the application to the SC-removed skin. However, the plasma concentration of hydrocortisone at 4 h from the liposome-gel was only one-fourth (p<0.01) the value from the ointment when the drug was applied to the SC-removed skin, consistent with. the lower urinary (one-third, p<0.05) and fecal (one-half, p＜0.05) excretion. Conclusions : Retarded diffusion of the drug from the skin to the systemic blood stream appears to be a potential factor in the sustained skin concentration of hydrocortisone from the liposome-gel, Interaction of hydrocortisone in the skin with phosphatidylcholine, a component of the liposomes and skin, may well be a factor in retarding the diffusion of the drug in the skin.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.205-209
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• 1999

Cholesterol plays an important role in various physiological responses and membrane stability. To investigate the effect of cholesterol in liposome on the stability of encapsulated ascorbic acid, the physico-chemical experiments using various amounts of cholesterol-containing liposomes were performed. The encapsulation efficiency of ascorbic acid was decreased with increasing cholesterol content in liposome, whereas size of liposome was increased. Furthermore, the stability of encapsulated ascorbic acid was increased with increasing the content of cholesterol. The stability was not affected by pH. Encapsulated ascorbic acid in liposome stored at $37^{\circ}C$ was rapidly oxidized compared to those stored at $4^{\circ}C$. These results suggest that cholesterol in liposome affects largely to the stability of encapsulated ascorbic acid.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2006

Nano and micro capsulation (NM capsulation) involve the incorporation for nanofood materials, enzymes, cells or other materials in small capsules. Since Kim D. M. (2001) showed that a new type of food called firstly the name of nanofood, which means nanotechnology for food, and the encapsulated materials can be protected from moisture, heat or other extreme conditions, thus enhancing their stability and maintaining viability applications for this nanofood technique have increased in the food. NM capsules for nanofood is also utilized to mask odours or tastes. Various techniques are employed to form the capsules, including spray drying, spray chilling or spray cooling, extrusion coating, fluidized bed coating, liposome entrapment, coacervation, inclusion complexation, centrifugal extrusion and rotational suspension separation. Each of these techniques is discussed in this review. A wide variety of nanofood is NM capsulated - flavouring agents, acids, bases, artificial sweeteners, colourants, preservatives, leavening agents, antioxidants, agents with undesirable flavours, odours and nutrients, among others. The use of NM capsulation for sweeteners such as aspartame and flavors in chewing gum is well known. Fats, starches, dextrins, alginates, protein and lipid materials can be employed as encapsulating materials. Various methods exist to release the ingredients from the capsules. Release can be site-specific, stage-specific or signaled by changes in pH, temperature, irradiation or osmotic shock. NM capsulation for the nanofood, the most common method is by solvent-activated release. The addition of water to dry beverages or cake mixes is an example. Liposomes have been applied in cheese-making, and its use in the preparation of nanofood emulsions such as spreads, margarine and mayonnaise is a developing area. Most recent developments include the NM capsulation for nanofood in the areas of controlled release, carrier materials, preparation methods and sweetener immobilization. New markets are being developed and current research is underway to reduce the high production costs and lack of food-grade materials.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2837-2840
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• 2012

We investigated whether IFN-${\beta}$ inhibits the growth of human malignant glioma and induces glioma cell apoptosis using the human IFN-${\beta}$ gene transfected into glioma cells. A eukaryonic expression vector ($pSV2IFN{\beta}$) for IFN-${\beta}$ was transfected into the glioma cell line SHG44 using liposome transfection. Stable transfection and IFN-${\beta}$ expression were confirmed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell apoptosis was also assessed by Hoechst staining and electron microscopy. In vivo experiments were used to establish a SHG44 glioma model in nude mice. Liposomes containing the human IFN-${\beta}$ gene were injected into the SHG44 glioma of nude mice to observe glioma growth and calculate tumor size. Fas expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The IFN-${\beta}$ gene was successfully transfected and expressed in the SHG44 glioma cells in vitro. A significant difference in the number of apoptotic cells was observed between transfected and non-transfected cells. Glioma growth in nude mice was inhibited in vivo, with significant induction of apoptosis. Fas expression was also elevated. The IFN-${\beta}$ gene induces apoptosis in glioma cells, possibly through upregulation of Fas. The IFN-${\beta}$ gene modulation in the Fas pathway and apoptosis in glioma cells may be important for the treatment of gliomas.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.802-807
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• 2011

Cationic liposomes have been actively used as gene delivery vehicle because of their minimal toxicity, but their relatively low efficiency of gene delivery is the major disadvantage of these vectors. Recently, cysteine residue incorporation to HIV-1 Tat peptide increased liposomemediated transfection compared with unmodified Tat peptide. Therefore, we designed a novel modified Tat peptide having a homodimeric (Tat-CTHD, Tat-NTHD) and closed structure (cyclic Tat) simply by using the disulfide bond between cysteines to develop a more efficient and safe nonviral gene delivery system. The mixing of Tat-CTHD and Tat-NTHD with DNA before mixing with lipofectamine increased the transfection efficiency compared with unmodified Tat peptide and lipofectamine only in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and rat vascular smooth muscle cells. However, cyclic Tat did not show any improvement in the transfection efficiency. In the gel retardation assay, Tat-CTHD and Tat-NTHD showed more strong binding with DNA than unmodified Tat and cyclic Tat peptide. This enhancement was only shown when Tat-CTHD and Tat-NTHD were mixed with DNA before mixing with lipofectamine. The effects of Tat- CTHD and Tat-NTHD were also valid in the experiment using DOTAP and DMRIE instead of lipofectamine. We could not find any significant cytotoxicity in the working concentration and more usage of these peptides. In conclusion, we have designed a novel transfection-enhancing peptide by easy homodimerization of Tat peptide, and the simple mix of these novel peptides with DNA increased the gene transfer of cationic lipids more efficiently with no additional cytotoxicity.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.2395-2400
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• 2016

Conventional drug carriers such as liposomes, nanoparticles, polymer micelles, polymeric conjugate and lipid microemulsion for cancer chemotherapy shield normal tissues from toxic drugs to treat cancer cells in tumors. However, inaccurate tumor targeting uncontrolled drug release from the carriers and unwanted accumulation in healthy sites can limit treatment efficacy with current conventional drug carriers with insufficient concentrations of drugs in the tumors and unexpected side effects as a result. Sickle red blood cells show natural tumor preferential accumulation without any manipulation due to the adhesive interaction between molecular receptors on the membrane surface and counter-receptor on endothelial cells. In addition, structural changes of microvascular in tumor sites enhances polymerization of sickle red blood cells. In this research, we examined the use of sickle red blood cells as a new drug carrier with novel tumor targeting and controlled release properties to quantify its therapeutic effects.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.2509-2513
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• 2010

In order to increase protease stability of a novel Trp-rich model antimicrobial peptide, $K_6L_2W_3$ (KLWKKWKKWLK-$NH_2$)and investigate the effect of L-amino acid to peptoid residue conversion on biological functions, we synthesized its antimicrobial peptoid, $k_6l_2w_3$. Peptoid $k_6l_2w_3$ had similar bacterial selectivity compared to peptide $k_66L_2W_3$. The bactericidal rate of $k_6l_2w_3$ was somewhat slower than that of $K_6L_2W_3$. Peptoid $k_6l_2w_3$ exhibited very little dye leakage from bacterial outer-membrane mimicking PE/PG liposomes, as observed in $K_6L_2W_3$, indicating that the major target site of $K_6L_2W_3$ and $k_6l_2w_3$ may be not the cell membrane but the cytoplasm of bacteria. Trypsin treatment of $K_6L_2W_3$ completely abolished antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, the antimicrobial activity of $k_6l_2w_3$ was completely preserved after trypsin treatment. Taken together, our results suggested that antimicrobial peptoid $k_6l_2w_3$ can potentially serves as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of microbial infection.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 2004

Numerous novel ingredients have been introduced for the higher functionality of whitening cosmetics. Through the preliminary research, we have found Trichosanthes kirilowii root, Prunella vulgaris leaf and Clematis chinensis root have high whitening efficacy. But they are insoluble. Moreover the discoloration of and decrease in content take place when they are exposed to light, heat or oxygen. From Trichosanthes kirilowii root, Prunella vulgaris leaf and Clematis chinensis root, efficacious ingredients were ethanol-extracted by heating to 75∼85$^{\circ}C$ for 6∼8 h. These extracts have the inhibitory activity of tyrosinase and B16 melanin formation, thus enhancing whitening effect. We made liposomes using propylene glycol (PG)/hydrogenated lecithin/middle chain triglycerides (MCT)/glycerin/water and microfuidizer to stabilize extracts. The stability against heat and light was enhanced by 3∼5 times compared with untreated extracts. Particle size analyzer, freeze fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM), chromameter and HPLC are used for the analysis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.428-435
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• 2006

Specific interaction of the epsin N-terminal homology(ENTH) domain with the plasma membrane appears to bridge other related proteins to the specific regions of the membrane that are invaginated to form endocytic vesicles. An additional $\alpha$-helix, referred to as helix 0 (H0), is formed in the presence of the soluble ligand inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate [$Ins(1,4,5)P_3$] at the N terminus of the ENTH domain (amino acid residues 3-15). The ENTH domain alone and full-length epsin cause tubulation of liposomes made of brain lipids. Thus, it is believed that H0 is membrane-inserted when it is coordinated with the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [$PtdIns(4,5)P_2$], resulting in membrane deformation as well as recruitment of accessory factors to the membrane. However, formation of H0 in a real biological membrane has not been demonstrated. In the present study, the membrane structure of H0 was determined by measurement of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) nitroxide accessibility. H0 was located at the phosphate head-group region of the membrane. Moreover, EPR line-shape analysis indicated that no pre-formed H0-like structure were present on normal acidic membranes. $PtdIns(4,5)P_2$ was necessary and sufficient for interaction of the H0 region with the membrane. H0 was stable only in the membrane. In conclusion, the H0 region of the ENTH domain has an intrinsic ability to form H0 in a $PtdIns(4,5)P_2$-containing membrane, perhaps functioning as a sensor of membrane patches enriched with $PtdIns(4,5)P_2$ that will initiate curvature to form endocytic vesicles.