• Title/Summary/Keyword: R & D Laboratory

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Molecular Cloning, Characterization and Functional Analysis of a 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2, 4-cyclodiphosphate Synthase Gene from Ginkgo biloba

  • Gao, Shi;Lin, Juan;Liu, Xuefen;Deng, Zhongxiang;Li, Yingjun;Sun, Xiaofen;Tang, Kexuan
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.39 no.5
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    • pp.502-510
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    • 2006
  • 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2, 4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (MECPS, EC: 4.6.1.12) is the fifth enzyme of the non-mevalonate terpenoid pathway for isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis and is involved in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for ginkgolide biosynthesis. The full-length mecps cDNA sequence (designated as Gbmecps) was cloned and characterized for the first time from gymnosperm plant species, Ginkgo biloba, using RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) technique. The full-length cDNA of Gbmecps was 874 bp containing a 720 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a peptide of 239 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 26.03 kDa and an isoelectric point of 8.83. Comparative and bioinformatic analyses revealed that GbMECPS showed extensive homology with MECPSs from other species and contained conserved residues owned by the MECPS protein family. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that GbMECPS was more ancient than other plant MECPSs. Tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that GbMECPS expressed the highest in roots, followed by in leaves, and the lowest in seeds. The color complementation assay indicated that GbMECPS could accelerate the accumulation of $\beta$-carotene. The cloning, characterization and functional analysis of GbMECPS will be helpful to understand more about the role of MECPS involved in the ginkgolides biosynthesis at the molecular level.

Gene Cloning, Expression and Immunogenicity of the Protective Antigen Subolesin in Dermacentor silvarum

  • Hu, Yonghong;Zeng, Hua;Zhang, Jincheng;Wang, Duo;Li, Dongming;Zhang, Tiantian;Yang, Shujie;Liu, Jingze
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.52 no.1
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    • pp.93-97
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    • 2014
  • Subolesin (4D8), the ortholog of insect akirins, is a highly conserved protective antigen and thus has the potential for development of a broad-spectrum vaccine against ticks and mosquitoes. To date, no protective antigens have been characterized nor tested as candidate vaccines against Dermacentor silvarum bites and transmission of associated pathogens. In this study, we cloned the open reading frame (ORF) of D. silvarum 4D8 cDNA (Ds4D8), which consisted of 498 bp encoding 165 amino acid residues. The results of sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that D. silvarum 4D8 (Ds4D8) is highly conserved showing more than 81% identity of amino acid sequences with those of other hard ticks. Additionally, Ds4D8 containing restriction sites was ligated into the pET-32(a+) expression vector and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli rosetta. The recombinant Ds4D8 (rDs4D8) was induced by isopropyl ${\beta}$-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and purified using Ni affinity chromatography. The SDS-PAGE results showed that the molecular weight of rDs4D8 was 40 kDa, which was consistent with the expected molecular mass considering 22 kDa histidine-tagged thioredoxin (TRX) protein from the expression vector. Western blot results showed that rabbit anti-D. silvarum serum recognized the expressed rDs4D8, suggesting an immune response against rDs4D8. These results provided the basis for developing a candidate vaccine against D. silvarum ticks and transmission of associated pathogens.

Phytochemical Constituents of Amomum xanthioides

  • Choi, Jung-Wook;Kim, Ki-Hyun;Lee, Il-Kyun;Choi, Sang-Un;Lee, Kang-Ro
    • Natural Product Sciences
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.44-49
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    • 2009
  • Seven monoterpenes, three sesquiterpenes, three phenolics and one flavonoid were isolated from the MeOH extract of Amomum xanthioides. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods to be caryophyllene oxide (1), bornyl acetate (2), nerolidol (3), spathulenol (4), (-)-borneol (5), (+)-5-endohydroxycamphor (6), vanillic acid (7), protocatechuic acid methyl ester (8), betulabuside A (9), (1R,4S,6R)-6-hydroxyfenchan-2-one-6-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (10), (1S,4R,6S)-6-hydroxybornan-2-one-6-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (11), (1R,2S,4S,5R)-angelicoidenol 2-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (12), 1-O-vanilloyl-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (13), and quercetin-3-rhamnopyranoside (14). Compounds 6-14 were isolated for the first time from this plant source. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines in vitro using a SRB bioassay.

Roles of Dopamine D2 Receptor Subregions in Interactions with β-Arrestin2

  • Zhang, Xiaohan;Choi, Bo-Gil;Kim, Kyeong-Man
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.24 no.5
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    • pp.517-522
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    • 2016
  • ${\beta}$-Arrestins are one of the protein families that interact with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The roles of ${\beta}$-arrestins are multifaceted, as they mediate different processes including receptor desensitization, endocytosis, and G protein-independent signaling. Thus, determining the GPCR regions involved in the interactions with ${\beta}$-arrestins would be a preliminary step in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the selective direction of each function. In the current study, we determined the roles of the N-terminus, intracellular loops, and C-terminal tail of a representative GPCR in the interaction with ${\beta}$-arrestin2. For this, we employed dopamine $D_2$ and $D_3$ receptors ($D_2R$ and $D_3R$, respectively), since they display distinct agonist-induced interactions with ${\beta}$-arrestins. Our results showed that the second and third intracellular loops of $D_2R$ are involved in the agonist-induced translocation of ${\beta}$-arrestins toward plasma membranes. In contrast, the N- and C-termini of $D_2R$ exerted negative effects on the basal interaction with ${\beta}$-arrestins.

Prediction of GHP Performance Using Cycle Analysis (사이클 해석을 통한 GHP 성능 예측)

  • Cha, Woo Ho;Choi, Song;Chung, Baik Young;Kim, Byung Soon;Jeon, Si Moon
    • Transactions of the KSME C: Technology and Education
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.15-21
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    • 2015
  • In this paper a prediction method of GHP performance is proposed for increasing design accuracy. Two compressors with different capacity and 2311cc gas engine are used for prediction and the target capacity of GHP is 25HP. For predicting GHP performance at first the operation points are randomly selected and then as compared with compressor performance date and heat exchanger characteristic, more accurate operating points are decided through recursive calculation. Lastly engine performance date is used for calculating gas consumption volume. Predicting heating mode performance of GHP, evaporator is separated to the two section of absorbing heat in outdoor air and in engine. From the experimental results, it was found that the simulation model is good for the predicting GHP efficiency and the difference of predicted and measured efficiency is less than 5%.

Physical Characterizations and In Vitro Skin Permeation of Elastic Liposomes for Transdermal Delivery of Polygonum aviculare L. Extract (마디풀 추출물의 경피 전달을 위한 탄성 리포좀의 물리적 특성 및 In Vitro 피부 투과 연구)

  • Han, Saet Byeol;Kwon, Soon Sik;Jeong, Yoo Min;Kong, Bong Ju;Yu, Eun Ryeong;Park, Soo Nam
    • Polymer(Korea)
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    • v.38 no.6
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    • pp.694-701
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    • 2014
  • In this study, Polygomun aviculare L. (P. aviculare L.) extract loaded elastic liposomes (ELPs) were investigated to enhance the transdermal delivery of P. aviculare L. extract composed of various flavonoids. ELPs were composed of egg phospholipids (PC) and edge activator ($Tego^{(R)}$ care 450) and the physical properties and in vitro permeation studies of ELPs were performed. Particle size ranged from 148.1 to 262.2 nm and deformability index was recorded as 11.5~25.4. Loading efficiency was from 53.1 to 66.3%. In vitro skin permeation studies using Franz diffusion cell demonstrated that ELP-4 having ratio of 85:15 for PC to $Tego^{(R)}$ care 450 exhibited the higher skin permeability than ELP-1, the general liposome without $Tego^{(R)}$ care 450. It was visually seen by fluorescence image restoration microscopy. The findings suggest that ELP-4 selected as the optimal formulation could be used as useful formulation for transdermal delivery of the extract.

Molecular cloning and characterization of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase (CaHDR) from Camptotheca acuminata and its functional identification in Escherichia coli

  • Wang, Qian;Pi, Yan;Hou, Rong;Jiang, Keji;Huang, Zhuoshi;Hsieh, Ming-shiun;Sun, Xiaofen;Tang, Kexuan
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.41 no.2
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    • pp.112-118
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    • 2008
  • Camptothecin is an anti-cancer monoterpene indole alkaloid. The gene encoding 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase (designated as CaHDR), the last catalytic enzyme of the MEP pathway for terpenoid biosynthesis, was isolated from camptothecin-producing Camptotheca acuminata. The full-length cDNA of CaHDR was 1686 bp encoding 459 amino acids. Comparison of the cDNA and genomic DNA of CaHDR revealed that there was no intron in genomic CaHDR. Southern blot analysis indicated that CaHDR belonged to a low-copy gene family. RT-PCR analysis revealed that CaHDR expressed constitutively in all tested plant organs with the highest expression level in flowers, and the expression of CaHDR could be induced by 100 ${\mu}M$ methyl-jasmonate (MeJA), but not by 100 mg/L salicylic acid (SA) in the callus of C. acuminata. The complementation of CaHDR in Escherichia coli ispH mutant MG1655 demonstrated its function.

A Study on the Performance Improvement of a Simultaneous Heating and Cooling Water Source Heat Pump System by Controlling of the Refrigerant Flow Rate in an Outdoor Unit (수열원 냉난방 동시형 히트펌프 시스템의 실외 열교환기 유량제어를 통한 성능개선에 관한 연구)

  • Bae, Heung Hee;Lee, Dong Hyuk;Lee, Sanghun;Kim, Byengsoon;Ahn, Young Chull
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.131-136
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    • 2013
  • The present study has conducted cycle design and control technology of a water source VRF heat pump system. Previously, study of a simultaneous heating and cooling in an air source VRF heat pump system has been conducted. However, performance data and design methods for simultaneous heating and cooling in a water source VRF heat pump system are limited in the literature, due to various system parameters and operating conditions. In this study, the operating characteristics and performances of a simultaneous heating and cooling heat pump system are carried out, in simultaneous operation modes. Control logics of an EEV are developed for flow rate control to the outdoor unit, and are verified. When the control logics are applied, the simultaneous cooling and heating performances are sufficiently achieved, and system COPs are increased by up to 23.4%.