• Title/Summary/Keyword: molecular level

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Mussel-Inspired, Fast Surface Modification of Solid Substrates

  • Hong, Sang-Hyeon;Kang, Sung-Min;Lee, Hae-Shin
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2011.08a
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    • pp.201-201
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    • 2011
  • Recently, mussel-inspired surface modification, called polydopamine coating has been extensively implemented to many areas, due to its material versatility and ease to use. In particular, incubation of substrates in an alkaline dopamine solution resulted in self-polymerization of dopamine and modified variety of material surfaces, including noble metals, metal oxides, ceramics, and synthetic polymers. However, the polydopamine coating has a drawback to practical use; it takes more than 12 hrs to introduce sufficient polydopamine layers to solid substrates. Here, we investigated the rate-enhanced polydopamine coating by varying reaction conditions: pH, concentration, and the addition of the oxidizing agent. As a result, the optimum condition for fast polydopamine coating was found, and solid substrates were efficiently coated with polydopamine layers in just few minutes using the condition. The polydopamine-modified surface was characterized by XPS and contact angle goniometry, and the biocompatibility of the modified surface was also proved by cell attachment test.

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Effect of Chitosan and N, O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan of Different Sources and Molecular Weights on Cadmium Toxicity (급원과 분자량이 다른 Chitosan 과 N, O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan이 Cadmium 중독에 미치는 영향)

  • 배계현
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.30 no.7
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    • pp.751-769
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    • 1997
  • This study was performed to investigate the effect of chitosan and NOCC from different sources and of different molecular weights on cadmium toxicity. Sprague-Dawley rats were blocked into 26 groups according to body weight, and were raised for 4 weeks. Cadmium chloride was given at the level of 0 or 400 ppm in diet. Various forms of chitosan and NOCC were given at the level of 0 or 4%(w/w) of diet. Cd toxicity was alleviated by various chitosan and NOCC supplements. However, the alleviating effects were different with fiber source(crab and shrimp), type(chitosan and NOCC), and molecular weight (low, medium, and high). Molecular weight had no significant effect. Compared with shrimp-source-fiber-fed groups, crab-source-fiber-fed groups showed lower Cd concentrations in blood and kidney, lower kidney metallothionein concentration, and lower liver and kidney MT-Cd contents. Compared with NOCC -fed groups, chitosan-fed groups showed lower intestine and liver Cd concentrations, lower liver and kidney MT concentrations and MT-Cd content, and higher fecal Cd excretion. Among cadmium-exposed group, low molecular weight shrimp chitosan group showed low Cd concentrations of liver and kidney, high fecal Cd excretions, and the lowest intestine and liver MT concentrations and liver MT-Cd content. In summary, a crab source fiber was more effective than shrimp source fiber, chitosan was more effective than NOCC, and the most effective one in alleviating Cd toxicity was low molecular weight shrimp chitosan.

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A Unique Strategy for Recovering Recombinant Proteins from Molecular Farming: Affinity Couture on Engineered Oilbodies

  • Seon, Jeong-Hoon;J.Steven Szarka;Maurice M. Moloney
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.4 no.3
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    • pp.95-101
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    • 2002
  • Molecular faming has the potential to provide large amounts of recombinant protein for use in diagnostics and as therapeutics. Various strategies have been developed to enhance the expression level, stability, and native folding of recombinant proteins produced in plants. Few investigations into the subcellular distribution of recombinant proteins within plant cells have been published despite the potential to increase the expression level and impact the purification process. This review article discusses the current strategies used for targeting recombinant proteins to various subcellular locations and the advantages of targeting to seed oil bodies for molecular farming applications. Specifically, the affinity capture of antibodies using recombinant oilbodies is discussed.

Probing the Molecular Orientation of ZnPc on AZO Using Soft X-ray Spectroscopies for Organic Photovoltaic Applications

  • Jung, Yunwoo;Lee, Nalae;Kim, Jonghoon;Im, Yeong Ji;Cho, Sang Wan
    • Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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    • v.24 no.5
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    • pp.151-155
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    • 2015
  • The interfacial electronic structure between zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and aluminumdoped zinc oxide (AZO) substrates has been evaluated by ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy and angle-dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy to understanding the molecular orientation of a ZnPc layer on the performance of small molecule organic photovoltaics (OPVs). We find that the ZnPc tilt angle improves the ${\pi}-{\pi}$ interaction on the AZO substrate, thus leading to an improved short-circuit current in OPVs based on phthalocyanine. Furthermore, the molecular orientation-dependent energy level alignment has been analyzed in detail using ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy. We also obtained complete energy level diagrams of ZnPc/AZO and ZnPc/indium thin oxide.

Effects of JSB, a Korean Medicine, on Behaviors and Biological Factors in a Mouse Model of Depression Induced by Restraint Stress (한약처방 JSB가 구금스트레스로 우울증을 유발한 생쥐의 행동과 생체지표에 미치는 영향)

  • Shin, Younmin;Lim, Hyung Taeck;Hwang, Eun-Young;Kim, Ka-Na;Lee, Won Kil;Kim, Yeongyeong;Jang, Heejin;Choi, Jeong June
    • Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.25-37
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    • 2021
  • Objectives: Depression is a mood disorder showing low energy, loss of interest, anhedonia, and anxiety. It affects a patients' daily life. This disease is considered a social problem because the patient may commit suicide in extreme cases. JSB is composed of 12 Korean medicinal herbs. It has been prescribed to patients with depression. The objective of this study is to investigate anti-depressive effects of JSB on restraint stress-induced depression in a mouse model. Methods: Depression was induced by restraint stress. Mice were orally administered JSB at 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg for 14 days. Forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT) were performed. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA level was measured by real time-PCR. Plasma levels of corticosterone and serotonin were measured by ELISA. Blood levels of AST and ALS were measured using a biochemical analyzer. Results: JSB treatment significantly reduced the immobility time in FST. BDNF mRNA level was increased by JSB treatment in the hippocampi of mice. Although the expression of TNF-α was also increased by JSB, such increase was not statistically significant. The increase of corticosterone level in plasma induced by restraint stress was significantly down-regulated by JSB. JSB reduced blood level of AST, but not ALT. Conclusions: JSB has a potential to manage depression, setting a foundation for clinical application of Korean medicine with safety.

Mechanism Analysis of Effect of Oxygen on Molecular Weight of Hyaluronic Acid Produced by Streptococcus zooepidemicus

  • Duan, Xu-Jie;Niu, Hong-Xing;Tan, Wen-Song;Zhang, Xu
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.299-306
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    • 2009
  • Dissolved oxygen (DO) has a significant effect on the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid (HA) during the fermentation of Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Therefore, to further investigate the effect of DO on the yield and molecular weight of HA, this study compared the metabolic flux distribution of S. zooepidemicus under aerobic conditions at various DO levels. The metabolic flux analysis demonstrated that the HA synthesis pathway, considered a dependent network, was little affected by the DO level. In contrast, the fluxes of lactate and acetate were greatly influenced, and more ATP was generated concomitant with acetate at a high DO level. Furthermore, the has gene expression and HA synthase activity were both repressed under anaerobic conditions, yet not obviously affected under aerobic conditions at various DO levels. Therefore, it was concluded that the HA molecular weight would seem to depend on the concomitant effect of the generation of ATP and reactive oxygen species. It is expected that this work will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of the DO level on the mechanism of the elongation of HA chains.

Isolation and Characterization of the Eicosapentaenoic Acid Biosynthesis Gene Cluster from Shewanella sp. BR-2

  • Lee, Su-Jin;Seo, Pil-Soo;Kim, Chul-Ho;Kwon, Oh-Suk;Hur, Byung-Ki;Seo, Jeong-Woo
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.19 no.9
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    • pp.881-887
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    • 2009
  • Forty-four eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-producing microbial strains were isolated from the intestines of marine fishes. Among them, one strain showing a maximum level of EPA (4.78% of total fatty acids) was identified as Shewanella sp. BR-2 on the basis of its 168 rRNA sequence. The EPA content reached a maximum level during the mid-exponential phase of cell growth, and gradually decreased with further growth of the cells. A cosmid DNA including the EPA biosynthesis gene cluster consisting of pfaA-E was isolated from a cosmid library of genomic DNA of Shewanella sp. BR-2, named pCosEPA-BR2. An E. coli clone harboring pCosEPA-BR2 produced EPA at a maximum level of 7.5% of total fatty acids, confirming the EPA biosynthesis activity of the cloned gene cluster.

Altered Amino Acid Metabolic Patterns in the Plasma of Rat Models with Adenovirus Infection

  • Paik, Man-Jeong;Shim, Woo-Young;Moon, Seung-Min;Kim, Yeon-Mi;Kim, Dong-Wan;Kim, Kyoung-Rae;Kim, Sun-A;Shim, Jeom-Soon;Choi, Sang-Dun;Lee, Gwang
    • Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.32 no.5
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    • pp.1569-1574
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    • 2011
  • The presence of replication-competent adenovirus (RCA) subpopulations in adenoviral vector products raises a variety of safety issues for development of therapies based on gene therapy. To analyze the differing effects of adenoviral vector and RCA in vivo, we examined alterations in amino acids (AAs) using rat plasma following injection of ${\beta}$-galactosidase expressing recombinant adenovirus (designated rAdLacZ) or RCA. Plasma AAs were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 16 AAs were positively measured. In the rAdLacZ group compared to the control group, the level of aspartic acid was significantly increased (Student's t-test), while the level of glutamic acid was significantly reduced. Additionally, in the RCA group compared to the control group, the level of four AAs, valine, leucine, and isoleucine as branched-chain amino acids, and proline were significantly increased, whereas the levels of three AAs, glycine, threonine, and glutamic acid were significantly reduced. Altered plasma free AA metabolic patterns in rAdLacZ and RCA groups, compared with the control group, may explain the disturbance of AA metabolism related to viral infection.