• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2014

In this study, we used polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid (PP-g-IA) as a compatibilizer to prevent phase separation phenomenon which occurs upon blending polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). A compatibilizer was prepared using graft copolymerization of itaconic acid (IA) onto PP where input ratio of IA was 1, 2, 5, and 10 wt.%. To confirm the structure of PP-g-IA and the graft ratio of IA onto PP, we used $^1H$ NMR and FT-IR. We tested the compatibilizer which has highest graft ratio of 1% in immiscible PP/EVOH blends. The morphologies of PP/PP-g-IA/EVOH blends were analyzed by SEM. Thermal and mechanical properties of the blends were analyzed by DSC and UTM. PP-g-IA enhanced the interfacial adhesion of PP and EVOH copolymer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.618-623
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• 2023

Most cancer cells utilize glucose at a high rate to produce energy and precursors for the biosynthesis of macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. This phenomenon is called the Warburg effect or aerobic glycolysis- this distinct characteristic is an attractive target for developing anticancer drugs. Here, we found that Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) is a substrate of the Protein Phosphatase 4 catalytic subunit (PP4C)/PP4 regulatory subunit 1 (PP4R1) complex by using immunoprecipitation and in vitro assay. While manipulation of PP4C/PP4R1 does not have a critical impact on PFK-1 expression, the absence of the PP4C/PP4R1 complex increases PFK-1 activity. Although PP4C depletion or overexpression does not cause a dramatic change in the overall glycolytic rate, PP4R1 depletion induces a considerable increase in both basal and compensatory glycolytic rates, as well as the oxygen consumption rate, indicating oxidative phosphorylation. Collectively, the PP4C/PP4R1 complex regulates PFK-1 activity by reversing its phosphorylation and is a promising candidate for treating glycolytic disorders and cancers. Targeting PP4R1 could be a more efficient and safer strategy to avoid pleiotropic effects than targeting PP4C directly.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.566-572
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• 2014

Maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted polypropylenes (PP) (MAH-g-PP) were prepared by changing MAH content and styrene monomer (SM)/MAH mole ratio with different type PP, using a twin screw extruder. The types of PP were isotatic PP (iPP), block PP (bPP), and random PP (rPP) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was used as an initiator. The graft degree of MAH was confirmed by the existence of carbonyl group (C=O) stretching peak at $3100cm^{-1}$ of FTIR spectrum. Thermal properties of MAH-g-PP and PP/MAH-g-PP/pulp composites were investigated by DSC and TGA. There was no district change in thermal properties of PP/MAH-g-PP/pulp composites. Based on tensile properties and SEM pictures for fractured surface of PP/MAH-g-PP/pulp composites, MAH-g-rPP was the best as the compatibilizer and optimum formulation was MAH content of 1.0 wt%, SM/MAH mole ratio of 1.0, and melt index (MI) of 25 g/10 min. The rheological properties of the composites were investigated by a dynamic rheometer. The complex viscosity, shear thinning effect, and water uptake incresed with pulp content.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.284-288
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• 2022

Polypropylene (PP) powder/cellulose nanofibers (CNF) 1 wt% slurry composites were prepared by filtering their suspension under reduced pressure and dried them in an oven followed by the use of a twin screw extruder. PP modified with side branches and polar groups was used. The side branches and polar groups were introduced into PP by using divinylbenzene and maleic anhydride (MAH), respectively. As a result of examining the dispersibility of CNF and the physical properties of the composite, it was confirmed that the composite prepared from PP powder/CNF 1 wt% slurry showed equal or higher levels in tensile and flexural strength as compared with those using the composite prepared from CNF powder.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.1125-1129
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• 2008

Polypropylene (PP)/corn starch master batch(starch-MB) blends with different PP compositions of 90, 80, 70, and 60 wt% were prepared by melt compounding at $200^{\circ}C$, using lab scale Brabender mixer. The chemical structures, thermal properties and non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the PP/starch-MB blends were investigated by FT-infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The fabrication of the PP/starch-MB blend was confirmed by the existence of hydroxy group in FT-IR spectrum. There was no district change in melting temperature and melting enthalpy, and TGA curve indicates a decrease in degradation temperature with starch-MB content. The non-isothermal crystallization process was analyzed using by Avrami equation. The Avrami exponents were in the range of 2.71-3.97 for PP and 1.48-1.99 for PP/starch-MB blonds. The activation energies calculated by Kissinger method were 233 kJ/mol for PP, 484 kJ/mol for PP90, 541 kJ/mol for PP80, 553 kJ/mol for PP70, and 422 kJ/mol for PP60.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.318-323
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• 2014

In order to analyze the effect of maleic anhydride (MAH) content and styrene monomer (SM)/MAH mole ratio on reactive extrusion of maleic anhydride grafted random polypropylenes (MAH-g-rPP), MAH-g-rPPs were prepared by using a twin screw extruder. MAH contents were 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 phr and SM/initiator mole ratio was 0.0, 1.0, and 2.0. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was used as an initiator. The graft degree of MAH was confirmed by the existence of carbonyl group (C = O) stretching peak at $1700cm^{-1}$ from FT-IR spectrum. The degree of graft reaction increased up to 3.0 phr MAH and showed the optimum value at 1.0 SM/MAH mole ratio from the area ratio of C = O and C-H stretching peak. Thermal and crystallization properties of MAH-g-rPP and PP/MAH-g-rPP/pulp composites were investigated by DSC, TGA, XRD, and POM. There was a decrease in non-isothermal crystallization temperature of PP/MAH-g-PP/pulp composites. Based on tensile properties and SEM pictures for the fractured surface of PP/MAH-g-PP/pulp composites, MAH content of 1.0 wt% and SM/MAH mole ratio of 1.0 were the optimum formulation as the compatibilizer. The rheological properties of the composites were measured by dynamic Rheometer to compare the processability of the composites with and without compatibilizer. The power law index showed slightly low value at the composites with compatibilizer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2018

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) is involved in various signal transduction mechanisms as an extensive regulator. The PP1 catalytic subunit (PP1c) recognizes and binds to PP1-binding consensus residues (FxxR/KxR/K) in NBCe1-B. Consequently, we focused on identifying the function of the PP1-binding consensus residue, $^{922}FMDRLK^{927}$, in NBCe1-B. Using site-directed mutagenesis and co-immunoprecipitation assays, we revealed that in cases where the residues were substituted (F922A, R925A, and K927A) or deleted (deletion of amino acids 922-927), NBCe1-B mutants inhibited PP1 binding to NBCe1-B. Additionally, by recording the intracellular pH, we found that PP1-binding consensus residues in NBCe1-B were not only critical for NBCe1-B activity, but also relevant to its surface expression level. Therefore, we reported that NBCe1-B, as a substrate of PP1, contains these residues in the C-terminal region and that the direct interaction between NBCe1-B and PP1 is functionally critical in controlling the regulation of the ${HCO_3}^-$ transport. These results suggested that like IRBIT, PP1 was another novel regulator of ${HCO_3}^-$ secretion in several types of epithelia.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.817-822
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• 2009

Type-1 phosphatase (PP-1) was assessed in foot muscle (FM) and hepatopancreas (HP) of estivating (EST) Otala lactea. Snail PP-1 displayed several conserved traits, including sensitivity to inhibitors, substrate affinity, and reduction in size to a 39 kDa catalytic subunit (PP-1c). During EST, PP-1 activity in FM and HP crude extracts was reduced, though kinetics and protein levels of purified PP-1c isoforms were not altered. PP-1c protein levels increased and decreased in nuclear and glycogen-associated fractions, respectively, during EST. Gel filtration determined that a 257 kDa low $K_m$ PP-1$\alpha$ complex decreased during estivation whereas a 76 kDa high $K_m$ complex increased in EST. Western blotting confirmed that the 76 kDa protein consisted of PP-1$\alpha$ and nuclear inhibitor of PP-1 (NIPP-1). A suppression of PP-1 activity factors in the overall metabolic rate depression in estivating snails and the mechanism is mediated through altered cellular localization and interaction with binding partners.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.881-885
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• 2008

Protein phosphatase 1 consists of a secondary structure arrangement, conserved in the serine/threonine protein phosphatase gene family, flanked by nonconserved N-terminal and C-terminal domains. The deletion mutant of PP1 with the 8 nonconserved N-terminal residues removed was designated PP1-(9-330). PP1-(9-330) had a higher activity and affinity than PP1 when assayed against four different substrates, and it also demonstrated a 6-fold higher sensitivity to the inhibitor okadaic acid. This suggested that the N-terminal domain suppresed the activity of PP1 and interfered with its inhibition by okadaic acid. The ANS fluorescence intensity of PP1-(9-330) was greater than that of PP1, which implies that the hydrophobic groove running from active site in the truncated PP1 was more hydrophobic than in PP1. Our findings provide evidence that the nonconserved N-terminus of PP1 functions as an important regulatory domain that influences the active site and its pertinent properties.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.180-184
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• 2015

PP-grafted GO was prepared by the reaction of graphene oxide (GO) containing 2-bromoisobuyryl groups and polypropylene (PP) having hydroxyl groups (PP-OH) via a "grafting-to" method. GO-Br was synthesized by the reaction of GO and 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide under a basic condition. PP-MAH was reacted with ethanolamine to produce PP-OH. The melting temperature of PP-grafted GO was shifted to the higher temperature than that of PP-OH. Also, the thermal stability of PP-grafted GO was increased as compared to PP-OH and GO. These results demonstrated that the grafted coating polymer PP was effective for enhancing the thermal stability of GO. The higher surface roughness of PP-grafted GO was resulted from the chemical attachment of PP on the surface of GO. The characterization of PP-grafted GO was conducted from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM).