• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for many angiogenic processes both in normal and pathological conditions. However, the signaling pathways involved in VEGF-induced angiogenesis are incompletely understood. The protein kinase D1 (PKD1), a newly described calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase, has been implicated in cell migration, proliferation and membrane trafficking. Increasing evidence suggests critical roles for PKD1-mediated signaling pathways in endothelial cells, particularly in the regulation of VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Recent studies show that class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) are PKD1 substrates and VEGF signal-responsive repressors of myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcriptional activation in endothelial cells. This review provides a guide to PKD1 signaling pathways and the direct downstream targets of PKD1 in VEGF signaling, and suggests important functions of PKD1 in angiogenesis.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.682-687
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• 2007

The equation of state developed herein is predicated on a hard-sphere reference with perturbations introduced via a potential function to account for electrostatic forces and for attraction between protein particles. During this process, the generalized Lennard-Jones (GLJ) pair potential function is employed. The GLJ pair potential function is employed to represent the protein-protein interaction in two-protein systems. Via the use of the relation between the equation of state and the chemical potential, the phase behavior in the aqueous two-protein system can be estimated. The partition coefficients can be obtained via these processes. The calculated values of the coefficients agree fairly well with the experimental data in the given pH and ionic strength range, with no additional adjustable model parameters.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2004

Radiation hardening is a multiscale phenomenon involving various processes over a wide range of time and length. We present a multiscale model for estimating the amount of radiation hardening in pressure vessel steel in the environment of a light water reactor. The model comprises two main parts: molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and a point defect cluster (PDC) model. The MD simulation was used to investigate the primary damage caused by displacement cascades. The PDC model mathematically formulates interactions between point defects and their clusters, which explains the evolution of microstructures. We then used a dislocation barrier model to calculate the hardening due to the PDCs. The key input for this multiscale model is a neutron spectrum at the inner surface of reactor pressure vessel steel of the Younggwang Nuclear Power Plant No.5. A combined calculation from the MD simulation and the PDC model provides a convenient tool for estimating the amount of radiation hardening.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.686-693
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• 2020

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system that breaks down damaged organelles or damaged proteins using intracellular lysosomes. Recent studies have also revealed that various forms of selective autophagy play specific physiological roles under different cellular conditions. Lipid droplets, which are mainly found in adipocytes and hepatocytes, are dynamic organelles that store triglycerides and are critical to health. Lipophagy is a type of selective autophagy that targets lipid droplets and is an essential mechanism for maintaining homeostasis of lipid droplets. However, while processes that regulate lipid droplets such as lipolysis and lipogenesis are relatively well known, the major factors that control lipophagy remain largely unknown. This review introduces the underlying mechanism by which lipophagy is induced and regulated, and the current findings on the major roles of lipophagy in physiological and pathological status. These studies will provide basic insights into the function of lipophagy and may be useful for the development of new therapies for lipophagy dysfunction-related diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.467-474
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• 2009

The modification of proteins by reversible phosphorylation is a key mechanism in the regulation of various physiological functions. Abnormal protein kinase or phosphatase activity can cause disease by altering the phosphorylation of critical proteins in normal cellular and disease processes. Alzheimer' disease (AD), typically occurring in the elderly, is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline. Accumulating evidence suggests that protein kinase and phosphatase activity are altered in the brain tissue of AD patients. Tau is a highly recognized phosphoprotein that undergoes hyperphosphorylation to form neurofibrillary tangles, a neuropathlogical hallmark with amyloid plaques in AD brains. This study is a brief overview of the altered protein phosphorylation pathways found in AD. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the activities of protein kinases and phosphatases are altered as well as the phosphorylation events in AD can potentially reveal novel insights into the role aberrant phosphorylation plays in the pathogenesis of AD, providing support for protein phosphorylation as a potential treatment strategy for AD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.338-345
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• 2013

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting the 3'-untranslated region of multiple target genes. Pathogenesis results from defects in several gene sets; therefore, disease progression could be prevented using miRNAs targeting multiple genes. Moreover, recent studies suggest that miRNAs reflect the stage of the specific disease, such as carcinogenesis. Cystic diseases, including polycystic kidney disease, polycystic liver disease, pancreatic cystic disease, and ovarian cystic disease, have common processes of cyst formation in the specific organ. Specifically, epithelial cells initiate abnormal cell proliferation and apoptosis as a result of alterations to key genes. Cysts are caused by fluid accumulation in the lumen. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying cyst formation and progression remain unclear. This review aims to introduce the key miRNAs related to cyst formation, and we suggest that miRNAs could be useful biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in several cystic diseases.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2000

Apparent MWDs of DOM in natural waters and swine wastewaters were determined through membrane ultrafiltration. The nominal MWCOs of ultrafiltration membranes by the manufacturer were confirmed to be similar with those obtained from the ultrafiltration procedures employed in this study using six MW standard compounds. Natural waters showed a wide range of MWOs, but 62.4~87.5% were in the range of MW<10K. High MW fractions were preferentially removed through water treatment processes. Swine wastewater showed two major ranges of MWDs, 49.0% in <1K and 36% in >50k while anaerobically treated swine wastewaters showed 17.5~18.0% in <1K and 53.0~58.8% in <50K. The overall DOM was reduced during anaerobic treatment by 76.8~80.0% as COD; however. the percentage of low MW fractions decreased and that of the high MW fractions increased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2000.02a
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• pp.157-157
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• 2000

The adsorption processes of methyl chloride on Si(100)-2$\times$1 have been studied by low energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and semiempirical PM3 calculations. The dissociative adsorption of the methyl chloride on Si(100) takes place without breaking of the silicon dimer with high efficiency. For adsorption at the room temperature, the existence of a precursor state is confirmed by the behavior of the sticking probability depending on the coverage and temperature. From AES measurements, the determined activation barrier of adsorption ($\Delta$ Hads) is -28.4 kj/mol. This results indicate that the dissociative process is nonactivated. The optimized precursor state of CH3Cl on the Si(100)-2$\times$1 surface was determined by PM3 calculations based on a cluster model.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.319-323
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• 2013

Protein aggregation can cause diseases and hinder the production of useful recombinant proteins. The present study showed that at least three types of aggregates can be formed from tryptophan synthase ${\alpha}$-subunit (${\alpha}TS$) by varying conditions: (1) an opaque white precipitous aggregate, (2) a transparent gel-like precipitous aggregate, and (3) an unprecipitous aggregate. Macroscopically different aggregate types might suggest different mechanisms underlying aggregation processes.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2018

Microfluidic technologies hold high promise and emerge as a potential molecular tool to facilitate the progress of fundamental and applied biomedical researches by enabling miniaturization and upgrading current biological research tools. In this review, we summarize the state of the art of existing microfluidic technologies and its' application for characterizing biophysical properties of individual cells. Microfluidic devices offer significant advantages and ability to handle in integrating sample processes, minimizing sample and reagent volumes, and increased analysis speed. Therefore, we first present the basic concepts and summarize several achievements in new coupling between microfluidic devices and mass spectrometers. Secondly, we discuss the recent applications of microfluidic chips in various biological research field including cellular and molecular level. Finally, we present the current challenge of microfluidic technologies and future perspective in this study field.