• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2024

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic ester that protects human keratinocytes against oxidative damage induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure, however, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the cell signaling mechanisms that regulate the antioxidant activity of RA and confirm its cyto-protective role. To explore the signaling mechanisms, we used the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and SKH1 hairless mouse skin. RA enhanced glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutathione synthetase (GSS) expression in HaCaT cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, RA induced nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) nuclear translocation and activated the signaling kinases protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Treatment with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, the ERK inhibitor U0126, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) gene silencing suppressed RA-enhanced GCLC, GSS, and NRF2 expression, respectively. Cell viability tests showed that RA significantly prevented UVB-induced cell viability decrease, whereas the glutathione (GSH) inhibitors buthionine sulfoximine, LY294002, and U0126 significantly reduced this effect. Moreover, RA protected against DNA damage and protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis caused by UVB-induced oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner in SKH1 hairless mouse skin tissues. These results suggest that RA protects against UVB-induced oxidative damage by activating AKT and ERK signaling to regulate NRF2 signaling and enhance GSH biosynthesis. Thus, RA treatment may be a promising approach to protect the skin from UVB-induced oxidative damage.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.537-545
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• 2018

In this study, transcriptome analysis was conducted to collect various information from Fagopyrum esculentum and Fagopyrum tataricum during the early germination stage. Total RNA was extracted from the seeds and at 12, 24, and 36 hrs after germination of Jeju native Fagopyrum esculentum and Fagopyrum tataricum and sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq 2000 platform. Raw data analysis was conducted using the Dynamic Trim and Lengths ORT programs in the SolexaQA package, and assembly and annotation were performed. Based on RNA-seq raw data, we obtained 16.5 Gb and 16.2 Gb of transcriptome data corresponding to about 84.2% and 81.5% of raw data, respectively. De novo assembly and annotation revealed 43,494 representative transcripts corresponding to 47.5Mb. Among them, 23,165 sequences were shown to have similar sequences with annotation DB. Moreover, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of buckwheat representative transcripts confirmed that the gene is involved in metabolic processes (49.49%) of biological processes, as well as cell function (46.12%) in metabolic process, and catalytic activity (80.43%) in molecular function In the case of gibberellin receptor GID1C, which is related to germination of seeds, the expression levels increased with time after germination in both F. esculentum and F. tataricum. The expression levels of gibberellin 20-oxidase 1 were increased within 12 hrs of gemination in F. esculentum but continuously until 36 hrs in F. tataricum. This buckwheat transcriptome profile analysis of the early germination stage will help to identify the mechanism causing functional and morphological differences between species.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 2007

RNase E is an essential Escherichia coli endoribonuclease that plays a major role in the decay and processing of a large fraction of RNAs in the cell and expression of N-terminal domain consisted of 1-498 amino acids (N-Rne) is sufficient to support normal cellular growth. By utilizing these properties of RNase E, we developed a genetic system to screen for amino acid substitutions in the catalytic domain of the protein (N-Rne) that lead to various phenotypes. Using this system, we identified three kinds of mutants. A mutant N-Rne containing amino acid substitution in the S1 domain (I6T) of the protein was not able to support survival of E. coli cells, and another mutant N-Rne with amino acid substitution at the position 488 (R488C) in the small domain enabled N-Rne to have an elevated ribonucleolytic activity, while amino acid substitution in the DNase I domain (N305D) only enabled N-Rne to support survival of E. roli cells when the mutant N-Rne was over-expressed. Analysis of copy number of ColEl-type plasmid revealed that effects of amino acid substitution on the ability of N-Rne to support cellular growth stemmed from their differential effects on the ribonucleolytic activity of N-Rne in the cell. These results imply that the genetic system developed in this study can be used to isolate mutant RNase E with various phenotypes, which would help to unveil a functional role of each subdomain of the protein in the regulation of RNA stability in E. coli.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.461-467
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• 2018

In this study, $(n-BuCp)_2ZrCl_2$, was supported on $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ binary support. Before supporting the catalyst, the $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ binary support was surface treated with three different alkyl aluminum compound, namely trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, and ethylaluminum sesquichloride. The synthesized surface-treated $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ supported metallocene catalysts were used for the copolymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene. Their catalytic properties and performances were analyzed through BET, XPS analysis, ICP-AES analysis, and FE-SEM. While the resulting copolymers were analyzed through DSC analysis, GPC analysis, 13C-NMR analysis, and FE-SEM. The analysis of synthesized surface-treated $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ supported metallocene catalysts showed that the Zr content of these catalysts is relatively lower compared to that of the catalyst supported on $SiO_2$. This could be attributed to the reduction in the surface area of $SiO_2$ due to the presence of recrystallized $MgCl_2$ and alkyl aluminum. Furthermore, they exhibited a better copolymerization activity compared to that of $SiO_2$ supported catalyst, particularly the EASC-surface treated binary support, which has the highest activity of 1.9 kg PE/($mmol-Zr^*hr$) because EASC acts as a strong Lewis acid. It could also be observed that the larger the ligand of alkyl aluminum used, the rougher the particle surface of the resulting polymer.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.558-567
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• 1989

The synthesis of methanol from carbon dioxide and hydrogen was studied for various compositions of Cu/ZnO catalyst system. Effect of the composition ratio of CuO and ZnO on the catalytic activity in the above reaction and the relationship between the activity and the characteristics of the catalysts were explained from the result of surface area measurements, SEM, XRD, and XPS. The major products of the reaction were methanol and carbon monoxide. The selectivity to methanol increased with increase of the copper oxide content in the catalyst up to CuO: ZnO = 30:70 weight ratio, and decreased rapidly when the content is above 70%. SEM and BET measurements, indicate that this point corresponds to the increasing point of the catalyst crystallite size and the decreasing point of the surface area. As to the Cu/Cu + Zn atomic ratio, the surface concentration of copper measured by XPS decreased remarkably when the copper oxide content in catalyst was higher than 50%. All the unreduced catalysts had almost same binding energy of Cu(2P3) level, but the binding energy for $Cu(2P^3)$ level of reduced catalysts was lowered than that of calcined catalysts. The surface copper species which was in the maximum amount when the CuO:ZnO composition in the catalyst was 30:70, existed as zero valent copper. This result agreed with the experimental result that the highest rate of methanol formation was observed when the CuO content in the catalyst was 30%. It was postulated that these reduced catalysts performed with a relatively strong basicity because the formation rate of acetone was higher than that of propylene in isopropanol decomposition as measured in a pulse type reactor.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 1996

An endogenous phenoloxidase (EPO) from earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus, has been purified and characterized. The purified EPO using ammonium sulfate fractionation, Blue-2, Phenyl-, and Q-sepharose chromatography steps was revealed in SDS-PAGE as a single protein banri with Mr. of 59 kl)a. A native strudure of the enzyme was examined with an in situ staining of a nondenatudng-PAGE using DL-dopa as a substrate. The result showed that a single band due to the EPO activity was located siighdy above a standard polypeptide with Mr. of 210 kl)a. These fads indicate that the EPO is an oligomeric enzyme. The presence of a monophenolase activity of the purified EPO, which hydroxylates tyrosine to dopa, was confirmed by observing dopachrome accumulation at 475 nm at PH 8.0 with a typical lag phase during 60 mm. of meausrement. A series of inhibition study has been performed for the enzyme with several divalent cation chelators such as phenyithiourea (Flu), 1, lO-phenanthroline, EDTA, and EGTA. Among them, only V'flj inhibited the enzyme with 1C0.5 of 65 MM, which indicated that copper was critical for the catalysis of EPO. The enzyme was maximally active at 35'C and pH 8.0 when L-dopa to dopachrome conversion was spectrophotometricaily monitored at 475 nm. The apparent Km values of P0 for L-opa were obtained as 1.86 mM and 13.8 mM at pH 6.5 and 8.0, respectively. The catalytic efficiencies at both pH were almost identical [(kat/Km)pH8.0/(kcat/Km)pH6.5 = O.92] while the Vmax at p11 8.0 was 6.6-fold higher than that at pH 6.5. This fact may indicate that pH affeds the catalysis at substrate and/or enzyme-substrate complex level rather than the enzyme itself. Taken together, the EPO was an oligomeric enzyme which did not require proteolysis for its activation. These results also indicated that the enzyme can exist, at least, in part as a latent form In vivo, which might be distinct from the prophenoloxidase activating system. Therefore, it is pertinent to consider that there must be certain regulatory molecules or phenomena in L. rubellus which make the 1,0 in a latent form in vivo before the foreign invasions.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2022

With the recent development of the biological enzymatic reaction industry, lactic acid (LA) can be mass-produced from biomass sources. In particular, a catalytic process that converts LA into acrylic acid (AA) is receiving much attention because AA is used widely in the petrochemical industry as a monomer for superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and as an adhesive for displays. In the LA conversion process, NaY zeolites have been previously shown to be a high-activity catalyst, which improves AA selectivity and long-term stability. However, NaY zeolites suffer from fast deactivation due to severe coking. Therefore, the aim of this study is to modify the acid-base properties of the NaY zeolite to address this shortcoming. First, base promoters, Ca ions, were introduced to the NaY zeolites to tune their acidity and basicity via ion exchange (IE) and incipient wetness impregnation (IWI). The IWI method showed superior catalyst selectivity and stability compared to the IE method, maintaining a high AA yield of approximately 40% during the 16 h reaction. Based on the NH₃- and CO₂-TPD results, the calcium salts that impregnated into the NaY zeolites were proposed to exit as an oxide form mainly at the exterior surface of NaY and act as additional base sites to promote the dehydration of LA to AA. The NaY zeolites were further treated with KOH before calcium impregnation to reduce the total acidity and improve the dispersion of calcium through the mesopores formed by KOH-induced desilication. However, this KOH treatment did not lead to enhanced AA selectivity. Finally, calcium loading was increased from 1wt% to 5wt% to maximize the amount of base sites. The increased basicity improved the AA selectivity substantially to 65% at 100% conversion while maintaining high activity during a 24 h reaction. Our results suggest that controlling the basicity of the catalyst is key to obtaining high AA selectivity and high catalyst stability.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.19-26
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• 2023

Hydrogen, a clean energy source free of COx emissions, is poised to replace fossil fuels, with its usage on the rise. Despite its high energy content per unit mass, hydrogen faces limitations in storage and transportation due to its low storage density and challenges in long-term storage. In contrast, ammonia offers a high storage capacity per unit volume and is relatively easy to liquefy, making it an attractive option for storing and transporting large volumes of hydrogen. While NH₃ decomposition is an endothermic reaction, achieving excellent low-temperature catalytic activity is essential for process efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The study examined the effects of different zeolite types (5A, NaY, ZSM5) on NH₃ decomposition activity, considering differences in pore structure, cations, and Si/Al-ratio. Notably, the 5A zeolite facilitated the high dispersion of Ni across the surface, inside pores, and within the structure. Its low Si/Al ratio contributed to abundant acidity, enhancing ammonia adsorption. Additionally, the presence of Na and Ca cations in the support created medium basic sites that improved N₂ desorption rates. As a result, among the prepared catalysts, the 15 wt%Ni/5A catalyst exhibited the highest NH₃ conversion and a high H₂ formation rate of 23.5 mmol/g_cat·min (30,000 mL/g_cat·h, 600 ℃). This performance was attributed to the strong metal-support interaction and the enhancement of N₂ desorption rates through the presence of medium basic sites.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.648-652
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• 2010

Catalytic activities of the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to hydrogen were investigated over Pd(5)/Ti-SPK and Pd(5)/Zr-SPK in a fixed bed flow reactor (FBFR) under atmosphere, and the catalysts were characterized by BET, XPS, XRD. The BET surface areas, pore volume and pore width of Horvath-Kawaze, micro pore area and volume of t-plot of Pd(5)/Ti-SPK and Pd(5)/Zr-SPK were $284m^2/g$, $0.233cm^3/g$, 3.9 nm, $30m^2/g$, $0.015cm^3/g$ and $396m^2/g$, $0.324cm^3/g$, 3.7nm, $119m^2/g$, $0.055cm^3/g$, repectively. The nitrogen adsorption isotherms were type IV with hysteresis. XPS showed that Si 2p and O 1s core electronlevels of Ti-SPK and Zr-SPK substituted Ti and Zr shifted to slightly lower binding energies than SPK. The oxidation states of Pd on the surface of catalysts were $Pd^0$ and $Pd^{+2}$. XRD patterns showed that crystal structures of fresh catalyst changed amorphous into crystal phase after reaction. The conversion and selectivity of POM to hydrogen over Pd(5)/Ti-SPK and Pd(5)/Zr-SPK were 77, 84% and 78, 72%, respectively, at 973 K, $CH_4/O_2$ = 2, GHSV = $8.4{\times}10^4mL/g_{cat}{\cdot}h$ and were kept constant even after 3 days in stream. These results confirm superior activity, thermal stability, and physicochemical properties of catalyst in POM to hydrogen.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2000

Zinc is one of the most abundant oligoelements in the living cell. It appears tightly bound to some metalloproteins and nucleic acids, loosely bound to some metallothioneins or even as free ion. Small amounts of zinc ions (in the nanomolar range) regulate a plentitude of enzymatic proteins, receptors and transcription factors, thus rolls need accurate homeostasis of zinc ions. Zinc is an essential catalytic or structural element of many proteins, and a signaling messenger that is released by neural activity at many central excitatory synapses. Growing evidences suggest that zinc may also be a key mediator and modulator of the neuronal death associated with transient global ischemia and sustained seizures, as well as perhaps other neurological disease stoles. Some neurons have developed mechanisms to accumulate zinc in specific membrane compartment ('vesicular zinc') which can be evidenced using histochemical techniques. Substances giving a bright colour or emitting fluorescence when in contact with divalent metal ions are currently used to detect them inside cells; their use leads to the so called 'direct' methods. The fixation and precipitation of metal ions as insoluble salt precipitates, their maintenance along the histological process and, finally, their demonstration after autometallographic development are essential steps for other methods, the so called 'indirect methods'. This study is a short report on the autometallograhical approaches for zinc detection in the central nervous system (CNS) by means of a modified selenium method.