• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제30권10호
• /
• pp.2345-2350
• /
• 2009

As part of an effort to discover bioactive natural products from marine sources, we investigated the bioactive secondary metabolites from two marine isolates of the fungi, Trichoderma viride and Rhizopus stolonifer. Three cyclopentenones, myrothenones A (1) and B (2) and trichodenone A (3), were isolated from T. viride and two cyclopentenones, 2-bromomyrothenone B (4) and botrytinone (5), were isolated from R. stolonifer. The molecular structures and absolute stereochemistries of the cyclopentenones were determined from chemical and physicochemical evidence, including quantum chemistry calculations, X-ray analysis, and the circular dichroism (CD) exciton chirality method. Myrothenone A (1) displays tyrosinase inhibitory activity, with an I$C_{50}$ value of 6.6 ${\mu}M$, and is therefore more active than the positive control, kojic acid.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.574-580
• /
• 2007

Full-length chloride intracellular channel protein 1 (CLIC1) is a member of the family of proteins related to bovine chloride intracellular channel p64. Mutations in the SEDL gene cause spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT), a rare X-linked chondrodysplasia. The link between the intracellular chloride channels and SEDL is an important step toward understanding their functional interplay. In the present study, CLIC1 protein was subcloned into the pGEX-KG vector and overexpressed in XL-1 blue cells. We developed a large-scale expression system composed of glutathione S-transferase (GST) fused with a 240-amino-acid CLIC1 protein in Escherichia coli. The soluble CLIC1 protein was successfully purified to homogeneity, and its purity, identity, activity and conformation were determined using SDS-PAGE, MALDI-MS, biophotometer and circular dichroism spectroscopic studies. The binding of both CLIC1 and SEDL proteins in vitro was detected by BIAcore biosensor and fluorescence measurements.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.1120-1126
• /
• 2013

The syndecan family consists of four transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans present in most cell types and each syndecan shares a common structure containing a heparan sulfate modified extracellular domain, a single transmembrane domain and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. To get a better understanding of the mechanism and function of syndecan-4 which is one of the syndecan family, it is crucial to investigate its three-dimensional structure. Unfortunately, it is difficult to prepare the peptide because it is membrane-bound protein that transverses the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. Here, we optimize the expression, purification, and characterization of transmembrane, cytoplasmic and short extracellular domains of syndecan4 (syndecan-4 eTC). Syndecan-4 eTC was successfully obtained with high purity and yield from the M9 medium. The structural information of syndecan-4 eTC was investigated by MALDI-TOF mass (MS) spectrometry, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was confirmed that syndecan-4 eTC had an ${\alpha}$-helical multimeric structure like transmembrane domain of syndecan-4 (syndecan-4 TM) in membrane environments.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• 제12권5호
• /
• pp.501-506
• /
• 2004

We have investigated the spectral properties of DNA, including its electric absorption, circular and linear dichroism (CD and LD), and fluorescence emission, in the DNA-linear polyethyleneimine (LPEI) and DNA-branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) complexes at various polymer concentrations. The spectral properties of both complexes are similar. We observed a relatively moderate change in the absorption and CD spectra at low amine/DNA phosphate (NIP) ratios (< 0.5), followed by a drastic collapse within the N/P range from 0.8 and 1.0. The absorption and CD spectra recovered as the N/P ratio increased to ca. 1.2. In contrast, the LD and emission of ethidium intercalated between the DNA bases decreased almost linearly at N/P ratios between 0.0 and 1.0. These spectra never recovered at higher N/P ratios. We believe that the moderate changes in the spectrum at low N/P ratios occurred because of electrostatic interactions between DNA and BPEI, while the collapsed spectra at N/P ratios between 0.5 and 1.5 occurred because of condensation/aggregation of the DNA. Considering the structure of the polymers, we suggest that the secondary amino group of LPEI and all three amino groups of BPEI are equally involved in DNA condensation.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.124-130
• /
• 2005

Protein kinase CKII is composed of two catalytic (${\alpha}$ or ${\alpha}^{\prime}$) subunits and two regulatory (${\beta}$) subunits. The ${\beta}$ subunit mediates tetramer formation through ${\beta}-{\beta}$ homodimerization and ${\alpha}-{\beta}$ heterodimerization. In a previous study R26 and R75, point mutants of $CKII{\beta}$ defective in ${\beta}-{\beta}$ dimerization, were isolated. In the present work we characterized these $CKII{\beta}$ mutants in vitro. Purified R26 and R75 bound to $CKII{\alpha}$ but were defective in binding to $CKII{\beta}$. R75 stimulated the catalytic activity of CKII whereas R26 gave little stimulation, and poly-L-lysine increased the stimulation of catalytic activity by R26 or R75. Circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence data pointed to different conformational changes in R26 and R75. Molecular modeling of these mutants provides an explanation of the difference in their ability to interact with $CKII{\beta}$ and to activate $CKII{\alpha}$.

• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제25권3호
• /
• pp.277-281
• /
• 1993

콜로이드 식품에서의 단백질의 구조적 안정성을 연구하기 위하여 7개의 BSA structural intermediates, succinylated ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$을 만든 후 CD, 이황화물 결합함량, hydrodynamic radius 등을 측정하여 그 구조적 특성을 규명했다. Refolding time이 길수록 BSA intermediates들은 native BSA 구조에 근접하는 것을 나타냈고 succinylation은 ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$의 순 음전하를 변화시켜 보다 aperiodic structure를 갖게하였다. Perchlorate 존재하 ${\beta}-casein$의 구조는 소수성 상호작용에 크게 영향 받는 것으로 나타났다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.592-599
• /
• 2012

Bacillus licheniformis ${\alpha}$-amylase (BLA), a thermophilic counterpart of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ${\alpha}$-amylase (BAA), is an appropriate model for the design of stabilizing mutations in BAA. BLA has 10 more histidines than BAA. Considering this prominent difference, in the present study, three out of these positions (I34, Q67, and P407; located in the thermostability determinant 1 region and Ca-III binding site of BAA) were replaced with histidine in BAA, using the site-directed mutagenesis technique. The results showed that the thermostability of P407H and Q67H mutants had increased, but no significant changes were observed in their kinetic parameters compared to that of the wild type. I34H replacement resulted in complete loss of enzyme activity. Moreover, fluorescence and circular dichroism data indicated a more rigid structure for the P407H variant compared with that of the wild-type BAA. However, the flexibility of Q67H and I34H mutants increased in comparison with that of wild-type enzyme.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제28권8호
• /
• pp.1299-1309
• /
• 2018

We previously reported on lactophoricin (LPcin), a cationic ${\alpha}-helical$ antimicrobial peptide derived from bovine milk, which has antimicrobial effects on Candida albicans as well as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we designed the LPcin-YK3 peptide, a shorter analog of LPcin, and investigated its antimicrobial activity. This peptide, consisting of 15 amino acids with + 3 net charges, was an effective antimicrobial agent against the on the Gram-positive strain, Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: $0.62{\mu}g/ml$). In addition, the hemolytic activity assay revealed that the peptide was not toxic to mouse and human erythrocytes up to $40{\mu}g/ml$. We also used circular dichroism spectroscopy to confirm that peptide in the presence of lipid has ${\alpha}-helical$ structures and later provide an overview of the relationship between each structure and antimicrobial activity. This peptide is a member of a new class of antimicrobial agents that could potentially overcome the problem of bacterial resistance caused by overuse of conventional antibiotics. Therefore, it could be used as a therapeutic or natural additive, particularly in the cosmetics industry.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제31권10호
• /
• pp.2771-2775
• /
• 2010

We present a rapid biogenic method for the production of nanoscale gold particles using pear extract. The formation and stability of pear-derived gold nanoparticles (Pear-AuNPs) were monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Their morphology, elemental composition and crystalline phase were determined by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The average core size of crystalline Pear-AuNPs was in the range of $10{\pm}5\;nm$ and the observed morphology was spherical. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum showed a strong peak for the pure 'Au' phase. The circular dichroism spectrum indicated the natural capping ability of the pear extract, which generated peptide-gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were stable in aqueous solution for two months. A cell viability assay of Pear-AuNPs showed biocompatibility with human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Accordingly, this eco-friendly process for the bio-mimetic production of Pear-AuNPs is nontoxic in nature; consequently, it will find potential application in nano-biotechnology.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제26권8호
• /
• pp.1225-1228
• /
• 2005

C-terminal fragments of APP (APP-CTs), that contain A$\beta$ sequence, are found in neurotic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and the cytosol of lymphoblastoid cells obtained from AD patients. CT26, Thr639-Asp664 (TVIVITLVMLKKKQYTSIHH GVVEVD) includes not only the transmembrane domain but also the cytoplasmic domain of APP. This sequence is produced from cleavage of APP by caspase and $\gamma$-secretase. In this study, the solution structure of CT26 was investigated using NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimeter in various membrane-mimicking environments. According to CD spectra and the tertiary structure of CT26 determined in TFE-containing aqueous solution, CT26 has an α-helical structure from $Val^{2}\;to\;Lys^{11}$ in TFE-containing aqueous solution. However, according to CD data, CT26 adopts a $\beta$-sheet structure in the SDS micelles and DPC micelles. This result implies that CT26 may have a conformational transition between $\alpha$-helix and $\beta$-sheet structure. This study may provide an insight into the conformational basis of the pathological activity of the C-terminal fragments of APP in the model membrane.