• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.841-850
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• 2014

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are conserved chromatin regulators involved in the control of key developmental programs in eukaryotes. They collectively provide the transcriptional memory unique to each cell identity by maintaining transcriptional states of developmental genes. PcG proteins form multi-protein complexes, known as Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). PRC1 and PRC2 contribute to the stable gene silencing in part through catalyzing covalent histone modifications. Components of PRC1 and PRC2 are well conserved from plants to animals. PcG-mediated gene silencing has been extensively investigated in efforts to understand molecular mechanisms underlying developmental programs in eukaryotes. Here, we describe our current knowledge on PcG-mediated gene repression which dictates developmental programs by dynamic layers of regulatory activities, with an emphasis given to the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.443-452
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• 2004

Habit is the description of the outer appearance of a crystal. If the environment of a growing crystal affects its external shape without changing its internal structure, a different habit results. Crystal habit and the internal structure of a drug can affect bulk and physicochemical properties, which range from flowability to chemical stability. A polymorph is a solid crystalline phase of a given compound resulting from the possibility of at least two different arrangements of the molecules of that compound in the solid state. Chemical stability and solubility changes due to polymorphism can have an impact on a drug's bioavailability and its development program. During crystallization from a solution, crystals separating may consist of a pure component or be a molecular compound. Solvates are molecular complexes that have incorporated the crystallizing solvent molecule in their lattice. When the solvent incorporated in the solvate is water, it is called a hydrate. To distinguish solvates from polymorphs, which are not molecular compounds, the term pseudopolymorph is used. Identification of possible hydrate compounds is important since their aqueous solubilities can be significantly less than their anhydrous forms. Conversion of an anhydrous compound to a hydrate within the dosage form may reduce the dissolution rate and extent of drug absorption. An amorphous solid may be treated as a supercooled liquid in which the arrangement of molecules is random. Amorphous solids lack the three-dimensional long-range order found in crystalline solids. Since amorphous forms are usually of higher thermodynamic energy than corresponding crystalline forms, solubilities as well as dissolution rates are generally greater. A study on crystal form includes characterization of (l)crystal habit, (2)polymorphism, (3)pseudopolymorphism, (4)amorphous solid.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.182-187
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• 2003

Low molecular weight copolymers of maleic anhydride and vinyl acetate were prepared to develop formaldehyde free cross-linking agents. Since lower molecular weight is favorable for efficient penetration of the finishing agent into the cotton fibers in the padding process, the concentration of the initiator, chain transfer agent and the monomer ratios were varied to obtain copolymers of low molecular weights. The prepared polymers were characterized by GPC, $^1{H-NMR}$, FTIR, DSC and TGA. Copolymers of molecular weights of 2 000 to 10 000 were obtained and it was found that the most efficient method of controlling the molecular weight was by varying the monomer ratios. Poly(maleic anhydride-co-vinyl acetate) did not dissolve in water, but the maleic anhydride residue hydrolyzed within a few minutes to form poly(maleic acid-co-vinyl acetate) and dissolved in water. However, the maleic acid units undergo dehydration to form anhydride groups on heating above ${160}^{\circ}C$ to some extent even in the absence of catalysts. The possibility of using the copolymers as durable press finishing agent for cotton fabric was investigated. Lower molecular weight poly(maleic anhydride-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers were more efficient in introducing crease resistance, which appears to be due to the more efficient penetration of the cross-linking agent into cotton fabrics. The wrinkle recovery angles of cotton fabrics treated with poly(maleic anhydride-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers were slightly lower than those treated with DMDHEU and were higher when higher curing temperatures or higher concentrations of copolymer were used, and when catalyst, $NaH_2$$PO_2$, was added. The strength retention of the poly(maleic anhydride-co-vinyl acetate) treated cotton fabrics was excellent.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.205-205
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• 2011

The self-assembly of ${\gamma}$-phenylalanine on Au(111) at 150 K was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Phenylalanine can potentially form two-dimensional (2D) molecular networks through hydrogen bonding (through the carboxyl and amino groups) and ${\pi}-{\pi}$ stacking interactions (via aromatic rings). We found that ${\gamma}$-phenylalanine molecules self-assembled on Au(111) surfaces into well-ordered structures such as ring-shaped clusters (at low and intermediate coverages) and 2D molecular domains (intermediate and monolayer coverages), whereas ${\alpha}$-phenylalanine molecules formed less-ordered structure on Au(111). The self-assembly of ${\gamma}$- but not ${\alpha}$-phenylalanine may be related to the flexibility of the carboxyl and amino groups in the molecule. Moreover, as expected, the 2D molecular network of ${\gamma}$-phenylalanine on Au(111) was mediated by a combination of hydrogen bonding and ${\pi}-{\pi}$ stacking interactions.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.219-237
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• 2011

Recent advances in scientific computing enable the full atomistic simulation of DNA molecules. However, there exists length and time scale limitations in molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for large DNA molecules. In this work, a two-level homogenization of DNA molecules is proposed. A wavelet projection method is first introduced to form a coarse-grained DNA molecule represented with superatoms. The coarsened MD model offers a simplified molecular structure for the continuum description of DNA molecules. The coarsened DNA molecular structure is then homogenized into a three-dimensional beam with embedded molecular properties. The methods to determine the elasticity constants in the continuum model are also presented. The proposed continuum model is adopted for the study of mechanical behavior of DNA loop.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.11-11
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• 2010

Supramolecualr ordering has been actively studied due to it's possible applications to the fabrication processes of nano-electronic devices. Van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bonding are frequently studied mechanisms for various molecular structures based on non-uniform charge distributions. Halogen atoms in molecules can have electrostatic interactions with similar strength. Big halogen atoms have strong non-uniform charge distributions. To study molecular orderings formed by hydrogen and halogen interactions, we chose a molecular system containing oxygen, hydrogen, and bromine atoms, a bromo-quinone. A two-dimensional molecular network was studied on Au(111) using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Bromo-quinonemolecules form self-assembled square grids having windmill structures. Their molecular orderings, chiral structures, and defects are explained in terms of hydrogen and halogen interactions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.354-354
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• 2010

Supramolecualr ordering has been actively studied due to it's possible applications to the fabrication processes of nano-electronic devices. Van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bonding are frequently studied mechanisms for various molecular structures based on non-uniform charge distributions. Halogen atoms in molecules can have electrostatic interactions with similar strength. Big halogen atoms have strong non-uniform charge distributions. To study molecular orderings formed by hydrogen and halogen interactions, we chose a molecular system containing oxygen, hydrogen, and bromine atoms, a bromo-quinone. A two-dimensional molecular network was studied on Au(111) using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Bromo-quinone molecules form self-assembled square grids having windmill structures. Their molecular orderings, chiral structures, and defects are explained in terms of hydrogen and halogen interactions.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.153-156
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• 1999

We have introduced the nonresonant holes in the satellite hole spectrum to examine the interaction of two tautomers of thionin to various polynucleotides, including [d(GC)7]2 , [d(AT)7]2 and calf thymus. The saturated depths of nonresonant holes are much reduced upon interacting with [d(GC)7]2 and calf thymus than with [d(AT)7]2 , implying that the binding affinity of thionin to [d(GC)7]2 and calf thymus is stronger than [d(AT)7]2 . In addition, the less perturbation on the exocyclic amino group of the amino -form of thionin upon interacting with [d(AT)7]2 suggests that a direct hydrogen bond formed between the amino group of thionin and the phosphate of nucleic acids is unlikely.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.731-732
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• 2003

Mutagen X (MX), 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone is one of the most potent directing acting mutagen ever tested in SAL TA100 assay. Although MX analogues have been synthesized, tested for mutagenicity and modeled by structure-activity relationship (SAR) methods, the mechanism of interaction of these compounds with DNA to produce their remarkable mutagenic potency remains unresolved. MX exists as an equilibrium mixture of both ring and open form in water. This equilibrium is very fast for Ames test. Because the mixture is not separable by experimental methods, it is not clear which one is really responsible for the observed mutagenicity. There have been many debates that which one is really responsible for the observed mutagenicity. We used ab initio methods for the MX analogues. It seems both ring and open form could react with DNA bases as electrophiles. However, every open form has consistently lower LUMO energy than corresponding ring form. It is reasonable to assume that the major reaction will go through via open form for MX analogues. This suggest that the open form is more likely really mutagenic.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2011

We have developed a biologist-friendly, stand-alone Java GUI application, IdBean, for ID conversion. Our tool integrated most of the widely used ID conversion services that provide programmatic access. It is the first GUI ID conversion application that supports the direct merging as well as comparison of conversion results from multiple ID conversion services without manual effort. This tool will greatly help biologists who handle multiple ID types for the analyses of gene or gene product lists. By referring to multiple conversion services, the number of failed IDs can be reduced. By accessing ID conversion service online, it will potentially provide the most up-to-date conversion results. The application was developed in modular form; however, it can be re-packaged into plug-in form. For the development of a bioinformatics analysis tool, the module can be used as a built-in ID conversion component. It is available at http://neon.gachon.ac.kr/IdBean/.