• Title/Summary/Keyword: Molecular-level understanding

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Molecular Imaging in the Age of Genomic Medicine

  • Byun, Jong-Hoe
    • Genomics & Informatics
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.46-55
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    • 2007
  • The convergence of molecular and genetic disciplines with non-invasive imaging technologies has provided an opportunity for earlier detection of disease processes which begin with molecular and cellular abnormalities. This emerging field, known as molecular imaging, is a relatively new discipline that has been rapidly developed over the past decade. It endeavors to construct a visual representation, characterization, and quantification of biological processes at the molecular and cellular level within living organisms. One of the goals of molecular imaging is to translate our expanding knowledge of molecular biology and genomic sciences into good patient care. The practice of molecular imaging is still largely experimental, and only limited clinical success has been achieved. However, it is anticipated that molecular imaging will move increasingly out of the research laboratory and into the clinic over the next decade. Non-invasive in vivo molecular imaging makes use of nuclear, magnetic resonance, and in vivo optical imaging systems. Recently, an interest in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has been revived, and along with optical imaging systems PET is assuming new, important roles in molecular genetic imaging studies. Current PET molecular imaging strategies mostly rely on the detection of probe accumulation directly related to the physiology or the level of reporter gene expression. PET imaging of both endogenous and exogenous gene expression can be achieved in animals using reporter constructs and radio-labeled probes. As increasing numbers of genetic markers become available for imaging targets, it is anticipated that a better understanding of genomics will contribute to the advancement of the molecular genetic imaging field. In this report, the principles of non-invasive molecular genetic imaging, its applications and future directions are discussed.

Regulation Mechanism of Soybean Storage Protein Gene Expression (대두 저장단백질 유전자의 발현 조절 메카니즘)

  • 최양도;김정호
    • Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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    • 1987.07a
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    • pp.283-307
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    • 1987
  • Glycinin and $\beta$-conglycinin are the most abundant storage protein in soybean. These proteins are known to be synthesized predominantly during germination and cell expansion phase of seed development for short period, and synthesized not in other tissues. Genes encoding these storage proteins are useful system to study the mechanism of development stage and tissue specific gene expression in eukaryotes, especially plants, at the molecular level. The cDNA and genomic clones coding for glycinin have been isolated and regulation mechanism of the gene expression has been studied. Initially, development and tissue-specific expression of the glycinin gene is regulated at the level of transcription. Post-transcriptional processing is also responsible for delayed accumulation of the mRNA. Translational control of the storage protein gene has not been reported. Post-translational modification is another strategic point to regulate the expression of the gene. It is possible to identify positive and/or negative reguratory clements in vivo by producing transgenic plants agter gene manipulation. Elucidation of activation and repression mechanism of soybean storage protein genes will contribute to the understanding of the other plant and eukaryotic genes at molecular level.

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The Effect of Computer-Assisted Instruction Using Molecular-Level Animation and Worksheet in High School Chemistry Class (고등학교 화학 수업에서 입자수준의 애니메이션과 활동지를 이용한 컴퓨터 보조수업의 효과)

  • Noh, Tae-Hee;Cha, Jeong-Ho;Kim, Chang-Min
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.128-136
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    • 1999
  • The effects of computer-assisted instruction (CAl) using molecular-level animation and worksheet upon students' achievement, conceptual understanding, and learning motivation were investigated. Treatment and control groups (2 classes) were selected from a girls' high school in Seoul, and taught about dissolution for 3 class hours. Before the instructions, the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Survey (PALS) was administered, and the grade for a previous science course was obtained. The PALS score was used as a covariate, and the other as a blocking variable. After the instructions, the achievement test, the conceptions test, and the Instructional Materials Motivation Scale (lMMS) were administered. Two-way ANCOVA results revealed that the scores of the CAl group in the achievement and the conceptions tests were significantly higher than those of the control group. The CAl group also performed better in all subtests of the IMMS except the subtest of relevance.

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Molecular Level Understanding of Chemical Erosion on Graphite Surface using Molecular Dynamics Simulations (분자동역학을 이용한 그래파이트 표면에서의 화학적 삭마현상에 관한 분자 수준의 이해)

  • Murugesan, Ramki;Park, Gyoung Lark;Levitas, Valery I.;Yang, Heesung;Park, Jae Hyun;Ha, Dongsung
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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    • v.19 no.6
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    • pp.54-63
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    • 2015
  • We present a microscopic understanding of the chemical erosion due to combustion product on the nozzle throat using molecular dynamics simulations. The present erosion process consists of molecule-addition step and equilibrium step. First, either $CO_2$ or $H_2O$ are introduced into the system with high velocity to provoke the collision with graphite surface. Then, the equilibrium simulation is followed. The collision-included dissociation and its influence on the erosion is emphasized and the present molecular observations are compared with the macroscopic chemical reaction model.

METALLIC INTERFACES IN HARSH CHEMO-MECHANICAL ENVIRONMENTS

  • Yildiz, Bilge;Nikiforova, Anna;Yip, Sidney
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.41 no.1
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    • pp.21-38
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    • 2009
  • The use of multi scale modeling concepts and simulation techniques to study the destabilization of an ultrathin layer of oxide interface between a metal substrate and the surrounding environment is considered. Of particular interest are chemo-mechanical behavior of this interface in the context of a molecular-level description of stress corrosion cracking. Motivated by our previous molecular dynamics simulations of unit processes in materials strength and toughness, we examine the challenges of dealing with chemical reactivity on an equal footing with mechanical deformation, (a) understanding electron transfer processes using first-principles methods, (b) modeling cation transport and associated charged defect migration kinetics, and (c) simulation of pit nucleation and intergranular deformation to initiate the breakdown of the oxide interlayer. These problems illustrate a level of multi-scale complexity that would be practically impossible to attack by other means; they also point to a perspective framework that could guide future research in the broad computational science community.

The Effects of a High-fat or High-sucrose Diet on Serum Lipid Profiles, Hepatic Acyl-CoA Synthetase, Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase-I, and the Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase mRNA Levels in Rats

  • Ryu, Mi-Hyun;Cha, Youn-Soo
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.36 no.3
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    • pp.312-318
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    • 2003
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of altering relative intakes of fat and carbohydrates on serum lipid profiles, hepatic acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I (CPT-I), and the acetyl-CoA carboxlyase (ACC) mRNA level in Sprague-Dawley rats. For four weeks the rats were fed either an AIN-76 diet or one of its modified diets that were supplemented with 20% beef tallow (high-fat diet, HF) and 66.3% sucrose (highsucrose diet, HS). The HS group had significantly higher serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations when compared with the other groups. Serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations in the HS and HF groups were significantly higher when compared to the normal diet (ND) group. Serum HDL-cholesterol levels of the ND and HS groups were significantly higher than those of the HF group. The hepatic total lipid level of the HF group was significantly higher than those of other groups; triglyceride levels of the HS and HF groups were significantly higher than those of the ND group. Hepatic ACS mRNA levels of the HF group were significantly higher than those of the ND group. Hepatic CPT-I mRNA levels were higher in the HF group than other groups. Also, ACC mRNA levels in the liver increased in the HF group. In conclusion, changes in the composition of dietary fat and carbohydrates could affect the hepatic ACS, CPT-I, and ACC mRNA levels. These results facilitate our understanding of the coordinated regulation of the ACS, CPT-I, and ACC mRNA levels and will serve to enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the regulation of fatty acid metabolism.

Meaning and Definition of Partial Charges (부분 전하의 의미와 정의)

  • Cho, Seung Joo
    • Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.231-236
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    • 2010
  • Partial charge is an important and fundamental concept which can explain many aspects of chemistry. Since a molecule can be regarded as neclei surrounded by electron cloud, there is no way to define a partial charge accurately. Nevertheless, there have been many attempts to define these seemingly impossible parameters, since they would facilitate the understanding of molecular properties such as molecular dipole moment, solvation, hydrogen bonding, molecular spectroscopy, chemical reaction, etc. Common methods are based on the charge equalization, orbital occupancy, charge density, and electric multipole moments, and electrostatic potential fitting. Methods based on the charge equalization using electronegativity are very fast, and therefore they have been used to study many compounds. Methods to subdivide orbital occupancy using basis set conversion, relies on the notion that molecular orbitals are composed of atomic orbitals. The main idea is to reduce overlap integral between two nuclei using converted orthogonal basis sets. Using some quantum mechanical observables like electrostatic potential or charge multipole moments. Using potential grids obtained from wavefunction, partial charges can be fitted. these charges are most useful to describe intermolecular electrostatic interactions. Methods to using dipole moment and its derivatives, seems to be sensitive the level of theory, Dividing electron density using density gradient being the most rigorous theoretically among various schemes, bears best potential to describe the charge the most adequately in the future.

Sex Differences in Cancer: Epidemiology, Genetics and Therapy

  • Kim, Hae-In;Lim, Hyesol;Moon, Aree
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.335-342
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    • 2018
  • The incidence and mortality of various cancers are associated with sex-specific disparities. Sex differences in cancer epidemiology are one of the most significant findings. Men are more prone to die from cancer, particularly hematological malignancies. Sex difference in cancer incidence is attributed to regulation at the genetic/molecular level and sex hormones such as estrogen. At the genetic/molecular level, gene polymorphism and altered enzymes involving drug metabolism generate differences in cancer incidence between men and women. Sex hormones modulate gene expression in various cancers. Genetic or hormonal differences between men and women determine the effect of chemotherapy. Until today, animal studies and clinical trials investigating chemotherapy showed sex imbalance. Chemotherapy has been used without consideration of sex differences, resulting in disparity of efficacy and toxicity between sexes. Based on accumulating evidence supporting sex differences in chemotherapy, all clinical trials in cancer must incorporate sex differences for a better understanding of biological differences between men and women. In the present review, we summarized the sex differences in (1) incidence and mortality of cancer, (2) genetic and molecular basis of cancer, (3) sex hormones in cancer incidence, and (4) efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy. This review provides useful information for sex-based chemotherapy and development of personalized therapeutic strategies against cancer.

The Instructional Effect of a Four-stage Problem Solving Approach Visually Emphasizing the Molecular Level of Matter upon Students' Conceptions and Problem Solving Ability (물질의 분자 수준을 시각적으로 강조하는 4단계 문제 해결식 수업이 학생의 개념과 문제 해결 능력에 미치는 효과)

  • Noh, Tae-Hee;Moon, Kyung-Moon
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.313-321
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    • 1997
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the instructional effect of a four-stage problem solving approach visually emphasizing the molecular level of matter upon students' conceptions and problem solving ability. On the basis of the research results regarding molecular representation in learning chemistry, problem-solving instruction, and the effect of visual materials, the instructional strategy was developed while considering Korean educational situations. The treatment and control groups (2 classes) were selected from a girls' high school in Seoul and taught about stoichiometry, gas, liquid, solid, and solution for 13 weeks. For the treatment group, 52 charts were supplied in order to emphasize the molecular level of matter and/or 4 stage problem solving strategy-understanding, planning, solving, and reviewing. For the control group, traditional instruction was used. Before the instructions, the Group Assessment of Logical Thinking and the Spatial Ability Test were administered, and their scores were used as covariate and blocking variable, respectively. After the instructions, students' conceptions and problem solving ability were measured by the Chemistry Conceptions Test (CCT) and the Chemistry Problem Solving Ability Test (CPSAT), respectively. The results indicated that the CCT scores of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The students in the treatment group also exhibited less misconceptions than those in the control group. However, there was not significant difference for the CPSAT scores. No interaction with students' spatial ability was found for both students' conceptions and problem solving ability. Educational implications are discussed.

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Molecular cloning and expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene under environmental stresses in sweetpotato

  • Kim, Young-Hwa;Song, Young-Sun;Huh, Gyung-Hye
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.95-100
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    • 2008
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a main enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, is involved in cellular energy production and regarded as a housekeeping gene. Previously, cytosolic GAPDH was selected as the most significantly abundant gene in EST library of sweetpotato suspension cells. In this study, a full-length of cDNA clone (IbGAPDH) encoding GAPDH was isolated from suspension-cultured cells of sweetpotato (Ipomoea babatas), and its expression was investigated with a view to understanding the physiological function of GAPDH in relation to environmental stresses. IbGAPDH encoded a 36.9 kDa polypeptide consisting of 337 amino acids. When the deduced amino acid of IbGAPDH was compared with other higher plants, IbGAPDH showed high homology with cytosolic GAPDH. The mRNA level of IbGAPDH significantly increased under environmental stresses, such as $H_2O_2$, MV and cold treatments. Among them, the transcript level of IbGAPDH gene was the highest under cold stress. Further investigation of the transcription level under $10^{\circ}C$ or $15^{\circ}C$ was performed with different tissues of sweetpotato. The transcription of IbGAPDH was increased by cold stress with tissue-specificity, moreover, showed different patterns according to temperature.