• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2000

The distribution of barbiturates in the model membranes of total lipids (SPMVTL) and total phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles was determined by employing a fluorescent probe technique. The two fluorescent probes 2-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid and 12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid were utilized as probes for the surface and the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the SPMVTL and SPMVPL, respectively. The Stern-Volmer equation of fluorescent quenching was modified to calculate the relative distribution. The analysis of preferential quenching of these probes by barbiturates indicates that pentobarbital, hexobarbital, amobarbital and phenobarbital are predominantly distributed on the surface area, while thiopental sodium has an accessibility to the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the SPMVTL and SPMVPL. From these results, it is strongly suggested that the more effective penetration into the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the membrane lipid bilayer could result in a higher general anesthetic activity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-144
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• 1997

The present study was carried out to investigate the processes of the ultrastructural differentiation and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities of the developing rat retina. The results are as follows. The retina of fetal rat on the 13th day of gestation showed the early stage of differentiation. Briefly, there appeared dividing chromosomes, the plentiful free ribosomes, and the high ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm. The reaction products by AChE were localized at the membrane of endoplasmic reticulum and on the outer membrane of nucleus. Ultrastructures and AChE activities in the retina of the fetal rats on the 18th day of gestation were similar to those of the prior stages, except the appearence of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. According to the ultrastructural observations, the rat retina was still in immature state at birth, but the pigment epithelial cells were fully differentiated, e. g. the increase of melanin granules, the development of mitochondria and Golgi apparatus. The AChE activity was weekly detected. The differentiated retinal layers and the outer segment of photoreceptor cells were observed on the 7th postnatal day. And the pigment epithelium appeared to be fully differentiated. On the 14th postnatal day, rat retina were completely differentiated. In other words, the rat retina was characterized by the prominent outer segments, phagocytosed residues in the pigment epithelium, and the localization of reaction products by AChE in the synapses. In conclusion, the differentiation of rat retina is charaterized by the changes of cell shape, the increase of retinal layers, and the alterations of AChE activities. It seems that rat retina is to be functional from 2 weeks of birth onward, coinciding with the eye opening of the juvenile rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2009

Gaegurin 4(GGN 4), an antimicrobial peptide isolated from a Korean frog, is five times more potent against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria, but has little hemolytic activity. To understand the mechanism of such cell selectivity, we examined GGN4-induced $K^+$ efflux from target cells, and membrane conductances in planar lipid bilayers. The $K^+$ efflux from Gram-positive M. luteus(2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$) was faster and larger than that from Gram-negative E. coli(75 ${\mu}g/ml$), while that from RBC was negligible even at higher concentration(100 ${\mu}g/ml$). GGN4 induced larger conductances in the planar bilayers which were formed with lipids extracted from Gram-positive B. subtilis than in those from E. coli(p<0.01), however, the effects of GGN4 were not selective in the bilayers formed with lipids from E. coli and red blood cells. Addition of an acidic phospholipid, phosphatidylserine to planar bilayers increased the GGN4-induced membrane conductance(p<0.05), but addition of phosphatidylcholine or cholesterol reduced it(p<0.05). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that GGN4 induced pore-like damages in M. luteus and dis-layering damages on the outer wall of E. coli. Taken together, the present results indicate that the selectivity of GGN4 toward Gram-positive over Gram-negative bacteria is due to negative surface charges, and interaction of GGN4 with outer walls. The selectivity toward bacteria over RBC is due to the presence of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol, and the trans-bilayer lipid asymmetry in RBC. The results suggest that design of selective antimicrobial peptides should be based on the composition and topology of membrane lipids in the target cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.321-327
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• 2009

Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) are reported to be porin-type, ${\beta}$-barrel diffusion pores. They are prominently localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane and are involved in metabolite exchange between the organelle and the cytosol. In this study, we have investigated a family of VDAC isoforms in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtVDAC). We have shown that the heterologous expression of AtVDAC proteins can functionally complement a yeast mutant lacking the endogenous mitochondrial VDAC gene. AtVDACs tagged with GFP were localized to mitochondria in both yeast and plant cells. We also looked at the response of AtVDACs to biotic and abiotic stresses and found that four AtVDAC transcripts were rapidly up-regulated in response to a bacterial pathogen.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.1 s.68
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• pp.80-86
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• 2005

To achieve the purpose of this study, forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control and three endurance exercise group. 36 rats were forced to exercise according to exercise intensity for 8 weeks and 12 rats were untrained for control group. Cardiac cytosol was extracted from cardiac tissue and cardiac mitochondria was purified from the cytosol. Purified mitochondria were separated into four fraction: inner membrane, outer membrane inter membrane space and matrix. The changes of cytosolic and mitochondrial LDH isozymes activity were measure. Relative activity $(\%)$ of cytosol for low and control group showed the following order of prevalence $AB_3>A_2B_2>B_4>A_3B>A_4$ for moderate and high group : $AB_3>B_4>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$. Outer membrane for low group showed $AB_3>B_4>A_2B_2$, for moderate group:$ B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2$, for high and control group: $B_4>A_3B$. Inter membrane space for low, moderate and high group showed $B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$, for control group: $B_4>A_3B>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_4$. Inner membrane for all group showed $B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$. Matrix for control, low, moderate and high group showed $B_4>AB_3>A_2B_2>A_3B>A_4$. These results suggest that long term exercise intensity effect on cardiac tissue cytosolic and mitochondrial activity and $A_4,\;A_3B,\;A_2B_2,\;AB_3\;and\;B_4$ isozymes were found entirely in mitochondrial fraction.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.649-655
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• 2011

Methane direct cracking can be utilized to produce $CO_x$ and $NO_x$-free hydrogen for PEM fuel cells, oil refineries, ammonia and methanol production. We present the results of a systematic study of methane direct cracking using a mixed conducting oxide, Y-doped $BaZrO_3$ ($BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$), membrane. In this paper, dense $BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$ membrane with disk shape was successfully sintered at $1400^{\circ}C$ with a relative density of more 93% via addition of 1 wt% ZnO. The ($BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$) membrane is covered with Pd as catalyst for methane decomposition with an DC magnetron sputtering method. Reaction temperature was $800^{\circ}C$ and high purity methane as reactant was employed to membrane side with 1.5 bar pressure. The $H_2$ produced by the reaction was transported through mixed conducting oxide membrane to the outer side. In addition, it was observed that the carbon, by-product, after methane direct cracking was deposited on the Pd/ZnO-$BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_3$ membrane. The produced carbon has a shape of sphere and nanosheet, and a particle size of 80 to 100 nm.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2001

Catechol and 4-chlorobenzoate (4CBA) which are produced from the biodegradation of a variety of aromatic and chloroaromatics have been recognized as toxic to living organisms. In this study, the toxic effects of catechol and 4-chlorobenzoate on gram-positive and -negative bacteria were examined in terms of survival, morphology, change in fatty acids and membrane protein composition. The survival rate of the organisms during treatment for 6 h was decreased, as the concentration of each aromatic was increased. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas cells treated with catechol and 4CBA at concentrations causing a significant decrease in their viability, showed destructive openings in their cell envelopes. Bacills subtilis treated with the aromatics were reduced in cell size and Staphylococcus aureus cells displayed irregular rod shapes with wrinkled surfaces. The bacterial cells treated with 20 mM catechol showed increases in unsaturated fatty acids, but several saturated fatty acids were decreased. In the E. coli cells treated with 20 mM catechol, inner membrane proteins of 150 kDa and 105 kDa were decreased. But several kinds of the inner and outer membrane proteins were increased. In B. subtilis treated with 20 mM catechol, several kinds of proteins were increased or decreased in membrane proteins.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.12 no.1_2
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• pp.81-105
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• 2003

This paper deals with the very interesting problem about the influence of piecewise smooth boundary conditions on the distribution of the eigenvalues of the negative Laplacian in R$^3$. The asymptotic expansion of the trace of the wave operator (equation omitted) for small ｜t｜ and i=√-1, where (equation omitted) are the eigenvalues of the negative Laplacian (equation omitted) in the (x$^1$, x$^2$, x$^3$)-space, is studied for an annular vibrating membrane $\Omega$ in R$^3$together with its smooth inner boundary surface S$_1$and its smooth outer boundary surface S$_2$. In the present paper, a finite number of Dirichlet, Neumann and Robin boundary conditions on the piecewise smooth components (equation omitted)(i = 1,...,m) of S$_1$and on the piecewise smooth components (equation omitted)(i = m +1,...,n) of S$_2$such that S$_1$= (equation omitted) and S$_2$= (equation omitted) are considered. The basic problem is to extract information on the geometry of the annular vibrating membrane $\Omega$ from complete knowledge of its eigenvalues by analysing the asymptotic expansions of the spectral function (equation omitted) for small ｜t｜.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2013

The main purpose of this study is to develop a commercial scale of pervaporative process equipped with hollow fiber membrane modules, being able to effectually purify organic solvent at high temperature well over its boiling point under high vapor pressure. Three constituent technologies have been developed; 1) to fabricate braid-reinforced hollow fiber membrane stable in high pressure and high temperature application, 2) to design and fabricate a commercial scale of hollow fiber membrane module, and 3) to design and fabricate a pilot scale of pervaporation equipment system. The developed hollow fiber membrane possesses a membrane performance superior to the membrane of Sulzer (Germany) which is the most-well known for pervaporation process, and the membrane module equips hollow fiber membranes of $4.6m^2$ and the pervaporation system can treat organic liquid at 200 L/h, which is based on the dehydration of 95 wt% isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Since the membrane module is designed to flow in and pass through the inside of individual hollow fiber membrane, not to involve both the formation of feed's dead volume observed in flat-sheet membrane module and the channeling of feed occurring inside hollow fiber bundle which lower membrane performance seriously, it showed excellent separation efficiency. In particular, the module is inexpensive and has less heat loss into its surrounding, in compared with flat-sheet membrane module. In addition, permeant can be removed effectively from the outer surface of hollow fiber membrane because the applied vacuum is conveyed uniformly through space between fibers into respective fiber, even into one in the middle of the hollow fiber bundle in which the space between fibers is uniform in distance. Since the hollow fiber membrane pervaporation system is the first one ever developed in the world, our own unique proprietary technology can be secured, preoccupying technical superiority in export competitive challenges.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2000

Using fluorescence probes, 2-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid (2- AS) and 12-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid (12-AS), we determined the differential effects of local anesthetics (tetracaine-HCI, bupivacaine-HCI, lidocaine-HCI, prilocaine-HCI and procaine-HCI) on the differential rotational rate between the surface (in carbon number 2 and its surroundings including the head group) and the hydrocarbon interior (in carbon number 12 and its surroundings) of the outer monolayer of the total phospholipid fraction liposome that is extracted from synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles. The anisotropy (r) values for the hydrocarbon interior and the surface region of the liposome outer monolayer were$0.051{\pm}0.001$ and $0.096{\pm}0.001,$ respectively. This means that the rate of rotational mobility in the hydrocarbon interior is faster than that of the surface region. Local anesthetics in a dosedependent manner decreased the anisotropy of 12-AS in the hydrocarbon interior of the liposome outer monolayer, but increased the anisotropy of 2-AS in the surface region of the monolayer. These results indicate that local anesthetics have significant disordering effects on the hydrocarbon interior, but have significant ordering effects on the surface region of the liposome outer monolayer.