The high resolution solution structure of MCP-3 was determined using multinuclear, multidimensional NMR spectroscopy with an expressed and $^{13}C-\;and\;^{15}N-labeled$ protein. The MCP-3 has a typical chemokine fold including 3 anti-parallel $\beta-sheets$, and a C-terminal helix, but it exists as a monomer in solution under the conditions where the structure was determined (2 mM, pH 5.1 at $30^{\circ}C$). Based on the structure and the amino acid sequence compared to other chemokines we propose that Ile20 and Leu25 in MCP-3 play key roles in the formation of N-loop (residues between the $2^{nd}$ cysteine and the I sheet) which has been implicated as a determinant of chemokine specificity. Additional receptor binding surface is supplied by the 40s loop (residues between the 2 and the 3 sheet) and the binding interface of the acidic N-terminal region of chemokine receptor to MCP-3 would resemble the dimerization interface of CC type dimer.

Purpose: To develop an advanced non-linear curve fitting (NLCF) algorithm for dynamic susceptibility contrast study of brain. Materials and Methods: The first pass effects give rise to spuriously high estimates of $K^{trans}$ in voxels with large vascular components. An explicit threshold value has been used to reject voxels. Results: By using this non-linear curve fitting algorithm, the blood perfusion and the volume estimation were accurately evaluated in T2*-weighted dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MR images. From the recalculated each parameters, perfusion weighted image were outlined by using modified non-linear curve fitting algorithm. This results were improved estimation of T2*-weighted dynamic series. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated an improvement of an estimation of kinetic parameters from dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data, using contrast agents. The advanced kinetic models include the relation of volume transfer constant $K^{trans}\;(min^{-1})$ and the volume of extravascular extracellular space (EES) per unit volume of tissue $\nu_e$.

New PVC plasticizer, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-butyrate-3-isobutyrate was synthesized via simple esterification with butyric acid and Texanol(a trademark of Eastman Chemicals), the mixture of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-3-isobutyrate and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-isobutyrate. The analysis of $^1H-1D,\;^{13}C-1D$ NMR and HMBC spectra identified internal-ester-transfer of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-isobutyrate during the reaction. 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-1-butyrate-3-isobutyrate gave better properties in PVC than 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate(TXIB, a trademark of Eastman Chemicals) such as lower viscosity, higher tensile strength and better elongation. In particular, remarkably reduced migration compared with TXIB suggested a reduced emission of VOC(volatile organic compound) from PVC.

E.coli methionyl tRNA synthetase consist of 676 amino acids and plays a key role in initiation of protein synthesis. The native form of this enzyme is a homodimer, but the monomeric enzyme truncated approximately C-terminal 120 amino acids retains the full enzymatic activities. X-ray crystal structure of the active monomeric enzyme shows that it has two domains. The N-terminal domain is thought to be a binding site for acceptor stem of tRNA, ATP, and methionine. The C-terminal domain is mainly a-helical and makes an interaction with the anticodon of $tRNA^{Met}$. Especially it is suggested that the region of helix-loop-helix including the tryptophan residue at the position 461 may be the essential for the interaction with anticodon of $tRNA^{Met}$. In this work the structure and function of E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase was studied by spectroscopic method (NMR, CD, Fluorescence). The importance of tryptophan residue at the position 461 was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Tryptophan 461 is expected to be an essential site for the interaction between E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase and E. coli $tRNA^{Met}$. Proton and heteonuclear 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopy were also used to elucidate the protein-tRNA interaction.

The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is highly linked with liver diseases and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. HBx-interacting protein (XIP) has been shown to abolish the transactivation functions of HBx. Here, we define the structural characteristics and HBx binding properties of XIP. Under physiological conditions, XIP was composed mainly of random-coils but significant helicity was induced in the hydrophobic condition. NMR spectroscopy defined the secondary structure of XIP in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Four putative helices were mapped to the amino acids 8-12, 32-38, 42-54 and 82-91. Any deletion of defined putative helices in XIP led to loss of binding to HBx, and truncated mutant lacking last putative helix decreased helicity more than that it could. Our results suggest that XIP requires its entire sequence for HBx binding and it may be under drastic conformational change when binds to HBx.

Vanadium-incorporated aluminophosphate molecular sieve $VO^{2+}-SAPO-5$ was studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) and electron spin echo modulation (ESEM) spectroscopies to determine the vanadium structure and interaction with various adsorbate molecules. It was found that the main species at low concentration of vanadium is a monomeric vanadium units in square pyramidal or distorted octahedral coordination, both in oxidation state (IV) for the calcined hydrated material and in oxidation state (V) for the calcined material. After calcinations in $O_2$ and exposure to moisture, only species A is observed with reduced intensities. It is suggested as a $VO(H_2O)_3^{2+}$ complex coordinated to two framework oxygen bonded aluminum. When calcined, hydrated $VO^{2+}-}SAPO-5$ is dehydrated at elevated temperature, a species loses its water ligands and transforms to $VO^{2+}$ ions coordinated to two framework oxygens (species B). Species B reduces its intensity, significantly after treatment with $O_2\;at\;600^{\circ}C$ for 5 h, thus suggesting oxidation of $V^{4+}\;to\;V^{5+}$. When dehydrated $VO^{2+}-SAPO-5$ contacts with $D_2O$ at room temperature, the EPR signal of species A is observed. Thus species assumed as a $VO^{2+}(O_f)_2(D_2O)_3$, by considering two framework oxygens. Adsorption of deuterated ethanol, propanol on dehydrated $VO^{2+}_{-}SAPO-5$ result in another new vanadium species E and F, respectively, which are identified as a $VO^{2+}-(CH_3CH_2OD)_3,\;VO^{2+}-(CH_3CH_2CH_2OD)_2$ complex. When deuterated benzene is adsorbed on dehydrated $VO^{2+}-SAPO-5$, another new vanadium species G, identified as a $VO^{2+}-(C_6D_6)$ is observed. Possible coordination geometries of these various complexes are discussed.

The interaction of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) with cationic dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB)micelle was studied with electron spin resonance (ESR) by determining line widths of the ESR spectra and coupling constant of nitrogen($A_N$). The degree of ESR line shape change such as line widths and coupling constant indicated that PEG mixes well with DTAB micelle due to a great hydrophobic interaction with surfactant alkyl chains. This suggests that the PEG can be used as non-ionic surfactant to disperse the exposed oil in the ocean.