• Title/Summary/Keyword: signal molecules

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Macroscopic Nonlinear Optical Properties of Tricyanopyrrolidene Chromophore Containing Amorphous Polycarbonate: Effect of Molecular Lateral Moiety in the Conjugative Structure

  • Cho, Min-Ju;Lee, Sang-Kyu;Jin, Jung-Il;Choi, Dong-Hoon
    • Macromolecular Research
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    • v.14 no.6
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    • pp.603-609
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    • 2006
  • Tricyanopyrrolidene chromophores were prepared in order to compare their macroscopic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties with a conjugated structure through the long molecular axis. A thiophene or phenyl ring was tethered to an ethylenic bond; it may act as a lateral moiety to disrupt the planarity of a chromophore and lessen the electrostatic interaction. Thin film composites of these chromophores dissolved in amorphous polycarbonate (APC) were fabricated. Real time pole and probe method was employed to investigate the change of electro-optic (EO) signal during poling. The EO properties and their relaxation behaviors of the guest-host systems containing newly synthesized chromophores were investigated in detail.

Highly Efficient Encapsulation of Anionic Small Molecules in Asymmetric Liposome Particles

  • Lee, Myung Kyu
    • Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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    • v.24 no.6
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    • pp.284-288
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    • 2015
  • Anionic small molecules are hard to penetrate the cell membranes because of their negative charges. Encapsulation of small molecules into liposome particles can provide target specific delivery of them. In our previous study, siRNA could be efficiently encapsulated into liposome particles using an asymmetric preparation method of liposomes. In this study, the same method was applied for encapsulation of small anionic fluorescent chemicals such as calcein and indocyanine green (ICG). More than 90% fluorescent chemicals were encapsulated in the asymmetric liposome particles (ALPs). No intracellular fluorescent signal was observed in the tumor cells treated with the unmodified calcein/ALPs and ICG/ALPs, whereas the surface modification with a cell-penetrating polyarginine peptide (R8 or R12) allows cellular uptake of the ALPs. The results demonstrate that the ALPs encapsulating small anionic drugs will be useful for target-specific delivery after modification of target-specific ligands.

Optimal Fuzzy Sliding-Mode Control for Microcontroller-based Microfluidic Manipulation in Biochip System

  • Chung, Yung-Chiang;Wen, Bor-Jiunn
    • 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2004.08a
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    • pp.196-201
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    • 2004
  • In biometric and biomedical applications, a special transporting mechanism must be designed for the ${\mu}$TAS (micro total analysis system) to move samples and reagents through the microchannels that connect the unit procedure components in the system. An important issue for this miniaturization and integration is microfluid management technique, i.e., microfluid transportation, metering, and mixing. In view of this, this study presents an optimal fuzzy sliding-mode control (OFSMC) design based on the 8051 microprocessor and implementation of a complete microfluidic manipulated system implementation of biochip system with a pneumatic pumping actuator, a feedback-signal photodiodes and flowmeter. The new microfluid management technique successfully improved the efficiency of molecular biology reaction by increasing the velocity of the target nucleic acid molecules, which increases the effective collision into the probe molecules as the target molecules flow back and forth. Therefore, this hybridization chip was able to increase hybridization signal 6-fold and reduce non-specific target-probe binding and background noises within 30 minutes, as compared to conventional hybridization methods, which may take from 4 hours to overnight. In addition, the new technique was also used in DNA extraction. When serum existed in the fluid, the extraction efficiency of immobilized beads with solution flowing back and forth was 88-fold higher than that of free-beads.

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Effect of Foreign Molecules on the SERS of Probe Molecules Trapped in Gaps between Planar Ag and Nano-sized Ag Particles

  • Kim, Kwan;Choi, Jeong-Yong;Shin, Kuan Soo
    • Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.793-800
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    • 2013
  • A few years ago, the plasmon-induced electronic coupling (PIEC) model was proposed in the literature to explain small changes in the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in nanogap systems. If this model is correct, it will be very helpful in both basic and application fields. In light of this, we carefully reexamined its appropriateness. Poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) used in the earlier work was, however, never a proper layer, since most adsorbates not only adsorbed onto Ag nanoparticles sitting on P4VP but also penetrated into the P4VP layer deposited initially onto a flat Ag substrate, ultimately ending up in the SERS hot sites. Using 1,4-phenylenediisocyanide and 4-nitrophenol as the affixing layer and the foreign adsorbate, respectively, we could clearly reveal that the PIEC model is not suited for explaining the Raman signal in a nanogap system. Most of the Raman signal must have arisen from molecules situated at the gap center.

Quorum-Sensing Mechanisms in Bacterial Communities and Their Potential Applications (세균의 의사 소통(Quorum-Sensing) 기구와 그 잠재적 응용성)

  • Yoon, Sung-Sik
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.402-409
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    • 2006
  • Although microorganisms are, in fact, the most diverse and abundant type of organism on Earth, the ecological functions of microbial populations remains poorly understood. A variety of bacteria including marine Vibrios encounter numerous ecological challenges, such as UV light, predation, competition, and seasonal variations in seawater including pH, salinity, nutrient levels, temperature and so forth. In order to survive and proliferate under variable conditions, they have to develop elaborate means of communication to meet the challenges to which they are exposed. In bacteria, a range of biological functions have recently been found to be regulated by a population density-dependent cell-cell signaling mechanism known as quorum-sensing (QS). In other words, bacterial cells sense population density by monitoring the presence of self-produced extracellular autoinducers (AI). N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-dependent quorum-sensing was first discovered in two luminescent marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio harveyi. The LuxI/R system of V. fischeriis the paradigm of Gram-negative quorum-sensing systems. At high population density, the accumulated signalstrigger the expression of target genes and thereby initiate a new set of biological activities. Several QS systems have been identified so far. Among them, an AHL-dependent QS system has been found to control biofilm formation in several bacterial species, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Burkholderia cepacia, and Serratia liquefaciens. Bacterial biofilm is a structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix that adheres to an inert or living surface. Extracellular signal molecules have been implicated in biofilm formation. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain NT1(traR, tra::lacZ749) and Chromobacterium violaceum strain CV026 are used as biosensors to detect AHL signals. Quorum sensing in lactic acid bacteria involves peptides that are directly sensed by membrane-located histidine kinases, after which the signal is transmitted to an intracellular regulator. In the nisin autoregulation process in Lactococcus lactis, the NisK protein acts as the sensor for nisin, and NisR protein as the response regulator activatingthe transcription of target genes. For control over growth and survival in bacterial communities, various strategies need to be developed by which receptors of the signal molecules are interfered with or the synthesis and release of the molecules is controlled. However, much is still unknown about the metabolic processes involved in such signal transduction and whether or not various foods and food ingredients may affect communication between spoilage or pathogenic bacteria. In five to ten years, we will be able to discover new signal molecules, some of which may have applications in food preservation to inhibit the growth of pathogens on foods.

Human Cytomegalovirus Inhibition of Interferon Signal Transduction

  • Daniel M. Miller
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.203-203
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    • 2002
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a beta-herpesvirus with worldwide distribution, exhibits host persistence, a distinguishing characteristic of all herpesviruses. This persistence is dependent upon restricted gene expression in infected cells as well as the ability of productively infected cells to escape from normal cell-mediated anti-viral immunosurveillance. Type I (IFN-α/β) and type II (IFN-γ) interferons are major components of the innate defense system against viral infection. They are potent inducers of MHC class I and II antigens and of antigen processing proteins. Additionally, IFNS mediate direct antiviral effects through induction effector molecules that block viral infection and replications such as 2′, 5-oligoadenylate synthetase (2, 5-OAS). IFNS function through activation of well-defined signal transduction pathways that involve phosphorylation of constituent proteins and ultimate formation of active transcription factors. Recent studies have shown that a number of diverse viruses, including CMV, EBV, HPV mumps and Ebola, are capable of inhibiting IFN-mediated signal transduction through a variety of mechanisms. As an example, CMV infection inhibits the ability of infected cells Is transcribe HLA class I and II antigens as well as the antiviral effector molecules 2, 5-OAS and MxA I. EMSA studies have shown that IFN-α and IFN-γ are unable to induce complete signal transduction in the presence of CMV infection, phenomena that are associated with specific decreases in JAKl and p48. Viral inhibition of IFN signal transduction represents a new mechanistic paradigm for increased viral survival, a paradigm predicting widespread consequences in the case of signal transduction factors common to multiple cytokine pathways.

Human Cytomegalovirus Inhibition of Interferon Signal Transduction

  • Miller, Daniel M.;Cebulla, Colleen M.;Sedmak, Daniel D.
    • Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.203-208
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    • 2000
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a beta-herpesvirus with worldwide distribution, exhibits host persistence, a distinguishing characteristic of all herpesviruses. This persistence is dependent upon restricted gene expression in infected cells as well as the ability of productively infected cells to escape from normal cell-mediated anti-viral immunosurveillance. Type I (IFN-$\alpha$/$\beta$) and type II (IFN-γ) interferons are major components of the innate defense system against viral infection. They are potent inducers of MHC class I and II antigens and of antigen processing proteins. Additionally, IFNS mediate direct antiviral effects through induction effector molecules that block viral infection and replications such as 2', 5-oligoadenylate synthetase (2, 5-OAS). IFNS function through activation of well-defined signal transduction pathways that involve phosphorylation of constituent proteins and ultimate formation of active transcription factors. Recent studies have shown that a number of diverse viruses, including CMV, EBV, HPV mumps and Ebola, are capable of inhibiting IFN-mediated signal transduction through a variety of mechanisms. As an example, CMV infection inhibits the ability of infected cells Is transcribe HLA class I and II antigens as well as the antiviral effector molecules 2, 5-OAS and MxA I. EMSA studies have shown that IFN-$\alpha$ and IFN-γ are unable to induce complete signal transduction in the presence of CMV infection, phenomena that are associated with specific decreases in JAKl and p48. Viral inhibition of IFN signal transduction represents a new mechanistic paradigm for increased viral survival, a paradigm predicting widespread consequences in the case of signal transduction factors common to multiple cytokine pathways.

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G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Molecular Organization and Regulatory Mechanisms

  • Caron, Marc G.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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    • 1994.04a
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    • pp.82-87
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    • 1994
  • Signal transduction through G protein-coupled receptors comprises three functional components, a receptor, a G protcin and a effector protein. Work over the last sevcral ycars has led to the characterization or virtually all of the components or these systems. what has come out or those studies is that these mechanisms of signal transduction are pervasive in nature being found in mammalian and avian species, as well as lower organisms such as yeast and slime mold. It is known that G protein-coupled receptors mediate the action of such diverse molecules such as small hormones and neurotransmitters, small peptide molecules as well as glycoprotein hormones and various sensory perceptions such as light, olfaction and most likely taste.

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NMR Study of larger proteins using isotope labeling

  • Park, Sung Jean
    • Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.47-51
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    • 2014
  • Larger proteins (above molecular weight 50 kDa) usually show slow motional tumbling in solution, which facilitates the decay of NMR signal, resulting in poor signal-to-noise. In the past twenty years, researchers have tried to overcome this problem with higher molecular weight by improvement of hardware (higher magnetic field and cryoprobe), optimization of pulse sequences for lager molecules, and development of isotope-labeling techniques. Actually, GroEL/ES complex (${\approx}$ 900 kDa) was successfully studied using combination of above techniques. Among the techniques used in large molecular studies, the impact of isotope-labeling for large molecules study is summarized and discussed here.

Systematic Study of Fluorescein-Functionalized Macrophotoinitiators for Colorimetric Bioassays

  • Lee, Jeong-Gyu;Han, Gyeong-Yeop;Go, Sang-Won;Sikes, Hadley D.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2013.08a
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    • pp.263.2-263.2
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    • 2013
  • We report a systematic investigation of a set of macrophotoinitiators for use in polymerization-based signal amplification. To test the dependence of photopolymerization responses on the number of photoinitiators localized per molecular recognition event, we gradually increased the number of photoinitiator molecules coupled to a scaffold macromolecule. Macrophotoinitiators constructed with an average of 7 to 168 photoinitiators per polymer with the goals of quantifying the relationship between the number of initiators per binding event and the degree of amplified colorimetric readout. To evaluate the capacity of the macrophotoinitiators to detect molecular recognition, neutravidin was coupled to these molecules to recognize biotin-labeled DNA immobilized on biochip test surfaces. Fluorescein macroinitiators are found to be useful in detecting molecular recognition above a threshold of initiators per polymer. Above this threshold, increasing the number of initiators per macroinitiator resulted in increased signal strength.

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