• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.899-908
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• 2020

Intrinsically disordered proteins or regions (IDPs or IDRs) are widespread in the eukaryotic proteome. Although lacking stable three-dimensional structures in the free forms, IDRs perform critical functions in various cellular processes. Accordingly, mutations and altered expression of IDRs are associated with many pathological conditions. Hence, it is of great importance to understand at the molecular level how IDRs interact with their binding partners. In particular, discovering the unique interaction features of IDRs originating from their dynamic nature may reveal uncharted regulatory mechanisms of specific biological processes. Here we discuss the mechanisms of the macromolecular interactions mediated by IDRs and present the relevant cellular processes including transcription, cell cycle progression, signaling, and nucleocytoplasmic transport. Of special interest is the multivalent binding nature of IDRs driving assembly of multicomponent macromolecular complexes. Integrating the previous theoretical and experimental investigations, we suggest that such IDR-driven multiprotein complexes can function as versatile allosteric switches to process diverse cellular signals. Finally, we discuss the future challenges and potential medical applications of the IDR research.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.357-366
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• 2020

Currently, most biological research relies on conventional experimental techniques that allow only static analyses at certain time points in vitro or ex vivo. However, if one could visualize cellular dynamics in living organisms, that would provide a unique opportunity to study key biological phenomena in vivo. Intravital microscopy (IVM) encompasses diverse optical systems for direct viewing of objects, including biological structures and individual cells in live animals. With the current development of devices and techniques, IVM addresses important questions in various fields of biological and biomedical sciences. In this mini-review, we provide a general introduction to IVM and examples of recent applications in the field of immunology, oncology, and vascular biology. We also introduce an advanced type of IVM, dubbed real-time IVM, equipped with video-rate resonant scanning. Since the realt-ime IVM can render cellular dynamics with high temporal resolution in vivo, it allows visualization and analysis of rapid biological processes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2010

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) in combustion flue gas are currently mitigated by chemical processes such as catalytic reduction, absorption and adsorption. However, development of environmentally sustainable biological processes is necessary in the near future. In this paper, the up-to-dated R&D trend of biological methodologies regarding NOx removal was reviewed, and their advantages and disadvantages were discussed. The principles and applications of bacterial system including nitrification and denitrification and photosynthetic microalgae system were compared. In order to enhance biological treatment rate and performance, the insoluble nitric oxide (NO) should be first absorbed using a proper solubilization agent, and then microbial degradation or fixation is to be followed. The use of microalgal system has a good prospect because it can fix $CO_2$ and NOx simultaneously and requires no additional carbon for energy source.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.534-539
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• 2004

Two biopolymers, silk fibroin (SF) and chitosan, were conjugated by tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1), a polyphenolic oxidase, to improve their physicochemical properties, such as their thermal properties and morphological stabilities in organic solvents. The crosslinking between SF and chitosan took place mainly through Michael addition reactions. A main reaction between the amino groups in chitosan and o-quinone, the oxidation product of the tyrosyl residue in SF, was confirmed by UV spectroscopy. Measurements of viscosity and light scattering indicated that the crosslinked SF/chitosan conjugate was compact: it had a smaller particle size because of tight bonding forces between the SF and chitosan molecular chains. Thermal decomposition of SF/chitosan conjugates crosslinked by tyrosinase occurred at higher temperatures. The adhesiveness of the SF/chitosan conjugates decreased steadily as the crosslinking reaction progressed. We propose that this new crosslinking method be used for the preparation of silk fibroin/chitosan conjugates using tyrosinase. We expect that SF/chitosan conjugates crosslinked by tyrosinase can be used preferentially in biomedical applications because of its unique properties and non-toxicity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.920-925
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• 2020

In India, nanotechnology has been used in therapeutic applications for several millennia. One example of a traditional nanomedicine is Rajath Bhasma (also called calcined silver ash), which is used as an antimicrobial and for the treatment of various ailments and conditions such as memory loss, eye diseases, and dehydration. In this study, we aimed to characterize the physical composition and morphology of Rajath Bhasma and its suitability for use as a non-toxic antimicrobial agent. First, Rajath Bhasma was physically characterized via i) Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to analyze the surface functional groups, ii) scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to observe the morphology and elemental composition, and iii) X-ray diffraction to determine the crystalline phases. Thereafter, functional characterization was performed through toxicity screening using zebrafish embryos and through antimicrobial activity assessment against gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Rajath Bhasma was found to harbor alkene, hydroxyl, aldehyde, and amide functional groups originating from biological components on its surface. The main component of Rajath Bhasma is silver, with particle size of 170-210 nm, and existing in the form of spherical aggregates with pure crystalline silver structures. Furthermore, Rajath Bhasma did not exert toxic effects on zebrafish embryos at concentrations below 5 ㎍/ml and exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The present results indicate that Rajath Bhasma is a potentially effective antimicrobial agent without toxicity when used at concentrations below 5 ㎍/ml.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.146-154
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• 2016

The wood decay fungi are a diverse taxonomic group that plays a pivotal role in forest carbon cycling. Wood decay fungi use various enzymatic pathways to digest dead or living wood in order to obtain carbon and other nutrients and these enzymatic systems have been exploited for both industrial and medical applications. Over 600 wood decay fungi species have been described in Korea; however, the recent application of molecular markers has dramatically altered the taxonomy of many of these wood decay fungi at both the genus and species levels. By combining molecular methods, specifically sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region, with traditional morphological characters, this study identified five new species records for Korea in five genera: Aurantiporus, Favolus, Neofavolus, Loweomyces, and Hymenochaetopsis. Three of these genera (Aurantiporus, Favolus, and Loweomyces) were previously unknown in Korea. The relatively simple morphology of the wood decay fungi often leads to ambiguous taxonomic assignment. Therefore, molecular markers are a necessary component of any taxonomic or evolutionary study of wood decay fungi. Our study highlights the need for a more robust and multifaceted approach in investigating new wood decay fungi in Korea.

• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.280-294
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• 2015

This paper presents the infectious watermarking model (IWM) for the protection of video contents that are based on biological virus modeling by the infectious route and procedure. Our infectious watermarking is designed as a new paradigm protection for video contents, regarding the hidden watermark for video protection as an infectious virus, video content as host, and codec as contagion medium. We used pathogen, mutant, and contagion as the infectious watermark and defined the techniques of infectious watermark generation and authentication, kernel-based infectious watermarking, and content-based infectious watermarking. We experimented with our watermarking model by using existing watermarking methods as kernel-based infectious watermarking and content-based infectious watermarking medium, and verified the practical applications of our model based on these experiments.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2013

The helium ion microscope (HIM) has recently emerged as a novel tool for imaging and analysis. Based on a bright ion source and small probe, the HIM offers advantages over the conventional field emission scanning electron microscope. The key features of the HIM include (1) high resolution (ca. 0.25 nm), (2) great surface sensitivity, (3) great contrast, (4) large depth-of-field, (5) efficient charge control, (6) reduced specimen damage, and (7) nanomachining capability. Due to the charge neutralization by flood electron beam, there is no need for conductive metal coating for the observation of insulating biological specimens by HIM. There is growing evidence that the HIM has substantial potential for high-resolution imaging of uncoated insulating biological specimens at the nanoscale.

• The Journal of Information Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.35-44
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• 2003

This study shows the implementation of the computer algorithm of active filter less than or equal to the 10th order for biological signals which is indispensably used as the interfaces for biological signal instrumentation of human body. Applications in the field of medial science are proposed by improving the weak point of manually calculated design which takes a lot of time and the complexity to design the active filter.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.582-587
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• 2002

Current information storage devices, such as HDD, CD/DVD-ROM/RW, probe-based memory and hologram memory, are compared with biological information storage mechanisms in DNA and brain memory. Newly developed approaches to overcome the limit of storage capacity are introduced in both magnetic and optical recording devices. Linear and areal density of information stored in the biological and mechanical storages are compared for the applications and developments of new storage devices.