• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.11 no.10
• /
• pp.1023-1030
• /
• 2002

The effects on photosynthesis of NaCl(0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1.0 M) were examined in etiolated barley seedlings. Chlorophyll(Chl) a, Chl b and carotenoid contents, Chl a fluorescence and quenching coefficients of Chl fluorescence have been determined in the primary leaves of etiolated barley seedlings cultivated under low light(60 $\mu$㏖ $m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$). Chl a, b, and carotenoid contents were decreased remarkably in comparison with the control at 0.4 M NaCl. However, the value of Fo and Fv were decreased at 0.6 M NaCl and the ratio of Fv/Fm were deceased at 1.0 M NaCl. Chlorophyll synthesis was seriously inhibited from 0.4 M NaCl, and the photosynthetic electron transport system was inhibited from 0.6 M NaCl. Quantum of photosystem II reaction center was inhibited at 1.0 M NaCl. The effects of NaCl on the Chl content were raised in a 6 hrs, but the effects of NaCl on the value of Fo, Fv and Fv/Fm were raised in 30 hrs. The value of qP was decreased in comparison with the control at all concentrations, but there was a small change in the value qE. These results provide evidence that NaCl inhibited effects of various concentration of NaCl were inhibited quinone redox, however, proton gradient between thylakoid membranes was little damaged.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2016

Appropriate control of diet and water intake is important for maintaining normal blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte homeostasis in the body. It is relatively understood that the amount of sodium and potassium intake directly affects blood pressure and regulates ion transporters; Na and K channel functions in the kidney. However, little is known about whether diet and water intake regulates Aquaporin (AQP) function. AQPs, a family of aquaporin proteins with different types being expressed in different tissues, are important for water absorption by the cell. Water reabsorption is a passive process driven by osmotic gradient and water permeability is critical for this process. In most of the nephron, however, water reabsorption is unregulated and coupled to solute reabsorption, such as AQP1 mediated water absorption in the proximal tubule. AQP2 is the only water channel founded so far that can be regulated by hormones in the kidney. AQP2 expressed in the apical membrane of the principal cells in the collecting tubule can be regulated by vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) controlling the final volume of urine excretion. When vasopressin binds to its receptor on the collecting duct cells, it stimulates the translocation of AQP2 to the membrane, leading to increased water absorption via this AQP2 water channel. However, some studies also indicated that the AQP2 is also been regulated by vasopressin independent mechanism. This review is focused on the regulation of AQP2 by diet and the amount of water intake on salt and water homeostasis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.58 no.6
• /
• pp.535-542
• /
• 2014

A simple and efficient preconcentration method was developed using three-phase liquid phase microextraction prior to HPLC-UV for simultaneous extraction and determination of tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, and chlortetracycline). The tetracycline antibiotics were separated simultaneously on a column ($C_8$, $3.0{\times}150mm$, $3{\mu}m$) with high selectivity and sensitivity using gradient elution. Under optimized conditions (extraction solvent, heptanal; pH of donor, 9.0; pH of acceptor, 1.0; stirring speed, 700 rpm; NaCl salt, 0%; and extraction time, 60 min), enrichment factors (EF) were between 5.6 and 22.3. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) in the spiked urine matrix were in the concentration range of $0.08{\sim}0.8{\mu}g/mL$ and $0.4{\sim}1.6{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The calibration curves were linear within the range of $0.1{\sim}32{\mu}g/mL$ with the square of the correlation coefficient being more than 0.995. The precision (as a relative standard deviation, RSD) and accuracy (as a relative recovery) within working range were 1.3~9.1% and 84~118%, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.52-56
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Neutrophils represent the front line of human defense against infections. Immediately after stimulation, neutrophilic enzymes are activated and produce toxic mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). These mediators can be toxic not only to infectious agents but also to host tissues. Because flavonoids exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, they are subjects of interest for pharmacological modulation of inflammation. In the present study, the effects of rutin on stimulus-induced NO and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ productions and MPO activity in human neutrophils were investigated. Methods: Human peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation coupled with dextran T500 sedimentation. The cell preparations containing > 98% granulocytes were determined by morphological examination through Giemsa staining. Neutrophils were cultured in complete Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium, pre-incubated with or without rutin ($25{\mu}M$) for 45 minutes, and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Then, the $TNF-{\alpha}$, NO and MPO productions were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Griess Reagent, and MPO assay kits, respectively. Also, the viability of human neutrophils was assessed using tetrazolium salt 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), and neutrophils were treated with various concentrations of rutin ($1-100{\mu}M$), after which MTT was appended and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 4 hour. Results: Rutin at concentrations up to $100{\mu}M$ did not affect neutrophil viability during the 4-hour incubation period. Rutin significantly decreased the NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ productions in human peripheral blood neutrophils compared to PMA-control cells (P < 0.001). Also, MPO activity was significantly reduced by rutin (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this in vitro study, rutin had an anti-inflammatory effect due to its inhibiting NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ productions, as well as MPO activity, in activated human neutrophils. Treatment with rutin may be considered as a therapeutic strategy for neutrophil-mediated inflammatory/autoimmune diseases.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.187-201
• /
• 2005

Bioprocessing technologies utilizing 'biorecognition' between a solid matrix and a protein is being widely experimented as a means to replacing the conventional, solution-based technology. Frequently the matrices are chromatographic resins with specific functional groups exposed outside. Since the reactions of and interactions with the proteins occur as they are attached to the solid matrix, this 'solid-phase' processing has distinct advantages over the solution-phase technology. Solid-phase refolding of inclusion body proteins uses ion exchange resins to adsorb denaturant-dissolved inclusion body. As the denaturant is slowly removed from the micromoiety around the protein, it is refolded into a native, three-dimensional structure. Once the refolding is complete, the folded protein can be eluted by a conventional elution technique such as the salt-gradient. This concept was successfully extended to 'EBA (expanded bed adsorption)-mediated refolding,' in which the denaturant-dissolved inclusion body in whole cell homogenate is adsorbed to a Streamline resin while cell debris and other impurity proteins are removed by the EBA action. The adsorbed protein follows the same refolding steps. This solid-phase refolding process shows the potential to improve the refolding yield, reduce the number of processing steps and the processing volume and time, and thus improve the overall process economics significantly. In this paper, the experimental results of the solid-phase refolding technology applied to several biopharmaceutical proteins of various types are presented.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.127-131
• /
• 2011

In this paper, we study the electronic and magnetic properties of Cr substituted SiTe in the rock-salt structure compound using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the generalized gradient approximation to the exchange correlation potential. Two stoichiometries are studied: $CrSi_3Te_4$ with 25 %, and $CrSiTe_2$ with 50 % Cr substitution. We found, from the total energy calculations, that the equilibrium lattice constant for cubic $CrSi_3Te_4$ is 11.64 a.u. and a = 7.89 a.u. and c = 11.13 a.u. for tetragonal $CrSiTe_2$. The integer value of the calculated magnetic moment per unit cell, $4{\mu}_B$ for $CrSiTe_2$ suggests that this compound is halfmetallic. The magnetic moment per unit cell for $CrSi_3Te_4$ is slightly larger than $4{\mu}_B$. The magnetic moment on Cr atoms are 3.61 and $3.62{\mu}_B$ in the $CrSi_3Te_4$ and $CrSiTe_2$, respectively. The presence of Cr atoms causes that the other atoms become slightly magnetized in both compounds. The electronic properties and the magnetism are discussed with the calculated spin-polarized density of states.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.133-139
• /
• 2006

In 'solid-phase' PEGylation, the conjugation reaction occurs as the proteins are attached to a solid matrix, and thus it can have distinct advantages over the conventional, solution-phase process. We report a case study: rhIFN-${\alpha}$-2a was first adsorbed to cation exchange resin and then N-terminally PEGylated by aldehyde mPEG of 5, 10, and 20 kD through reductive alkylation. After the PEGylation, salt gradient elution efficiently recovered the mono-PEGylate in a purified form from the unwanted species such as unmodified IFN, unreacted PEG, and others. The mono-PEGylation and its purification were integrated in a single chromatographic step. Depending on the molecular weight of the mPEG aldehyde used, the mono-PEGylation yield ranged 50-64%. We could overcome the major problems of random, or uncontrollable, multi-PEGylation and the post-PEGylation purification difficulties associated with the solution-phase process. N-terminal sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS confirmed that a PEG molecule was conjugated only to the N-terminus. Compared with the unmodified IFN, the mono-PEGylate showed the reduced anti-viral activity as measured by the cell proliferation assay. The bioactivity was reduced more as the higher molecular weight PEG was conjugated. Immunoreactivity, evaluated indirectly by antibody binding activity using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor, also decreased. Nevertheless, trypsin resistance as well as thermal stability was considerably improved.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.237-246
• /
• 2022

Owing to their high bioproductivity and unique physical environment, estuarine wetlands are gaining importance in national biodiversity management and habitat conservation. With regard to conservation and management of estuarine wetlands, this study analyzed the ecological characteristics of Gahwacheon Estuarine Wetland, an open estuary with various habitat types. Data from vegetation and biotic surveys have shown that 12 plant communities of five physiognomic vegetation types, including lentic herbaceous vegetation, halophytic herbaceous vegetation, and chasmophytic herbaceous vegetation. Due to the discharge of Namgang Dam and the effect of the tide, vegetation are distributed along the narrow waterside area. In terms of biodiversity, a total of 715 species, including 12 endangered wildlife species, were identified. Species diversity was relatively high in sections I and III where various riverbed structures and microhabitats were distributed. Due to the effect of the brackish water area following the inflow of seawater, endangered wildlife of various functional groups were also found to be distributed, indicating the high conservation value of that area. The collection of ecological information of the Gahwacheon Estuarine Wetland can be used as a framework for establishing the basis for conservation and management of the estuarine ecosystem and support policy establishment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.311-325
• /
• 2007

The concept of metal bioavailability, rather than total metal in soils, is increasingly becoming important for a thorough understanding of risk assessment and remediation. This is because bioavailable metals generally represented by the labile or soluble metal components existing as either free ions or soluble complexed ions are likely to be accessible to receptor organismsrather than heavy metals tightly bound on soil surface. Consequently, many researchers have investigated the bioavailability of metals in both soil and solution phases together with the key soil properties influencing bioavailability. In order to study bioavailability changes various techniques have been developed including chemical based extraction (weak salt solution extraction, chelate extraction, etc.) and speciation of metals using devices such as ion selective electrode (ISE) and diffusive gradient in the thin film (DGT). Changes in soil metal bioavailability typically occur through adsorption/desorption reactions of metal ions exchanged between soil solution and soil binding sites in response to changes in environment factors such as soil pH, organic matter (OM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), low-molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs), and index cations. Increasesin soil pH result in decreases in metal bioavailability through adsorption of metal ions on deprotonated binding sites. Organic matter may also decrease metal bioavailability by providing more negatively charged binding sites, and metal bioavailability can also be decreases as concentrations of DOC and LMWOAs increase as these both form strong chelate complexeswith metal ions in soil solution. The interaction of metal ions with these soil properties also varies depending on the soil and metal type.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.306-317
• /
• 2014

This study has been executed to understand the additional and removal processes of nutrients in the Saemangeum Salt-water Lake, and discussed with other monthly-collected environmental parameters such as water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, and Chl-a from 2008 to 2010. $NO_3$-N, TP, $PO_4$-P, and DISi showed the removal processes along with the salinity gradients at the surface water of the lake, whereas $NO_2$-N, $NH_4$-N, and Chl-a showed addition trend. In the bottom water all water quality parameters except $NO_3$-N appeared addition processes indicating evidence of continuous nutrients suppliance into the bottom layer. The mixing modelling approach revealed that the biogeochemical processes in the lake consume $NO_3$-N and consequently added $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P to the bottom water during the summer seasons. The $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P appeared strong increase at the bottom water of the river-side of the lake and strong concentration gradient difference of dissolved oxygen also appeared in the same time. DISi exhibited continuous seasonal supply from spring to summer. Internal addition of $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P in the river-side of the lake were much higher than the dike-side, while the increase of DISi showed similar level both the dike and river sides. The temporal distribution of benthic flux for DISi indicates that addition of nutrients in the bottom water was strongly affected by other sources, for example, submarine ground-water discharge (SGD) through bottom sediment.