• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권11호
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• pp.1519-1528
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• 2013

Bacillus pumilus SG2, a halotolerant strain, expresses two major chitinases designated ChiS and ChiL that were induced by chitin and secreted into the supernatant. The present work aimed to obtain a mutant with higher chitinolytic activity through mutagenesis of Bacillus pumilus SG2 using a combination of UV irradiation and nitrous acid treatment. Following mutagenesis and screening on chitin agar and subsequent formation of halos, the mutated strains were examined for degradation of chitin under different conditions. A mutant designated AV2-9 was selected owing to its higher chitinase activity. To search for possible mutations in the whole operon including ChiS and ChiL, the entire chitinase operon, including the intergenic region, promoter, and two areas corresponding to the ChiS and ChiL ORF, was suquenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the complete chitinase operon from the SG2 and AV2-9 strains showed the presence of a mutation in the catalytic domain (GH18) of chitinase (ChiL). The results demonstrated that a single base change had occurred in the ChiL sequence in AV2-9. The wild-type chitinase, ChiL, and the mutant (designated ChiLm) were cloned, expressed, and purified in E. coli. Both enzymes showed similar profiles of activity at different ranges of pH, NaCl concentration, and temperature, but the mutant enzyme showed approximately 30% higher catalytic activity under all the conditions tested. The results obtained in this study showed that the thermal stability of chitinase increased in the mutant strain. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict changes in the stability of proteins caused by mutation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.61-70
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• 2009

We have examined the effects of certain mutations of the selectivity filter and of the membrane helix M2 on $Ba^{2+}$ blockage of the inward rectifier potassium channel, Kir 2.1. We expressed mutant and wild type murine Kir 2.1 in Chinese hamster ovary(CHO) cells and used the whole cell patch-clamp technique to record $K^+$ currents in the absence and presence of externally applied $Ba^{2+}$. Wild type Kir2.1 was blocked by externally applied $Ba^{2+}$ in a voltage and concentration dependent manner. Mutants of Y145 in the selectivity filter showed little change in the kinetics of $Ba^{2+}$ blockage. The estimated $K_d(0)$ was 108 ${\mu}M$ for Kir2.1 wild type, 124 ${\mu}M$ for a concatameric WT-Y145V dimer, 109 ${\mu}M$ for a WT-Y145L dimer, and 267 ${\mu}M$ for Y145F. Mutant channels T141A and S165L exhibit a reduced affinity together with a large reduction in the rate of blockage. In S165L, blockage proceeds with a double exponential time course, suggestive of more than one blocking site. The double mutation T141A/S165L dramatically reduced affinity for $Ba^{2+}$, also showing two components with very different time courses. Mutants D172K and D172R(lining the central, aqueous cavity of the channel) showed both a decreased affinity to $Ba^{2+}$ and a decrease in the on transition rate constant(${\kappa}_{on}$). These results imply that residues stabilising the cytoplasmic end of the selectivity filter(T141, S165) and in the central cavity(D172) are major determinants of high affinity $Ba^{2+}$ blockage in Kir 2.1.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 1997

We determined the microviscosity of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from bovine cerebral cortex and liposomes of total lipids (SPMTL) and phospholipids (SPMPL) extracted from SPMV. Changes in the microviscosity induced by the range and rate of lateral diffusion were measured by the intramolecular excimerization of 1, 3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py-3-Py). The microviscosity values of the direct probe environment in SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were 38.17, 31.11 and 27.64 cP, respectively, at$37^{\circ}C$and the activation energies $(E_a)$ of the excimer formation of Py-3-Py in SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were 8.236, 7.448 amd 7.025 kcal/mol, respectively. Probe location was measured by polarity and polarizability parameters of the probe Py-3-Py and probe analogues, pyrene, 1-pyrenenonanol and 1-pyrenemethyl-3${\beta}$-hydroxy-22, 23-bisnor-5-cholenate (PMC), incorporated into membranes or solubilized in reference solvents. There existed a good linear relationship between the first absorption peak of the $^1_a$ band and the polarizability parameter $(n^{2}-1)/(2n^{2}+1)$.The calculated refractive index values for SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were close to 1.50, which is higher than that of liquid paraffin (n=l.475). The probe location was also determined by using a polarity parameter $(f-1/2f^{I})$. Here f=$({\varepsilon}-1)/(2{\varepsilon}+1)$ is the dielectric constant function and $f^I=(n^2-1)/(2n^2+1)$ is the refractive index function. A correlation existed between the monomer fluorescence intensity ratio and the solvent polarity parameter. The probes incorporated in SPMV, SPMTL, and SPMPL report a polarity value close to that of 1-hexanol $({\varepsilon}=13.29)$. In conclusion, Py-3-Py is located completely inside the membrane, not in the very hydrophobic core, but displaced toward the polar head groups of phospholipid molecules, e.g., central methylene region of aliphatic chains of phospholipid molecules.

• 태양에너지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.5-13
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• 1990

온도가 일정한 외벽을 열원으로 하는 수직원통형 축열조 내에 채워진 상변화물질의 내향용융 과정에서 자연대류에 의한 열전달현상을 유한차분법을 이용하여 수치해석하였고, 그 결과를 실험을 통하여 검증하였다. 상변화물질로는 용융점온포가 $42.5%^{\circ}C$ n-docosane paraffin($C_{22}H_{46}$)을 사용하였다. 본 연구 결과에서 상변화물질의 용융속도는 액상영역의 자연대류로 인하여 축열조 상부로 갈수록 빠른 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 상변화물질의 초기온도는 액상영역 속도분포에 큰 영향을 주지 않으며, 상변화물질의 초기온도가 낮을수록 용융속도는 늦어지고 축열조의 형상비($H/r_w$)가 커질수록 자연대류는 활발해지는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 수치해석의 결과는 실험 결과와 잘 일치하였으나, 수치해석시 상변화물질의 용융에 따르는 체적팽창을 고려하지 않았기 때문에 용융이 진행 됨에 따라 오차가 발생하였다.

• 한국식품저장유통학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.184-190
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• 2011

Limonoid UDP-glucosyltransferase (LUGT)는 리모노이드에 포도당을 붙여줌으로써 궁극적으로 감귤에서 발생하는 limonoid bitterness를 제거해 주는 효소이다. 본 연구에서는 10종의 제주산 감귤로부터 LUGT유전자를 PCR 클로닝하고 그 염기서열을 비교했다. 실험에 사용한 모든 종에서 카르복실기 말단에 식물 당전달 효소에서 발견되는 전형적인 아미노산 서열인 p1ant secondary product glycosyltransferase(PSPG) 모티브가 존재했다. 아미노산 서열에 의한 계통수 분석을 실시해본 결과 10종의 제주산 감귤은 3그룹으로 분류했다. 각 그룹의 대표적인 3종 재래귤 품종 빈귤, 동정귤, 홍귤의 성숙 시기별 LUGT 발현양상은 delayed bitterness가 거의 없는 궁천과는 다른 양상을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과들은 빈귤, 동정귤, 홍귤과 같은 일부 재래귤 품종에서의 쓴맛은 LUGT발현이 지연됨에 따라 발생하는 delayed bitterness에 기인할 수 있음을 시사하고 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.581-590
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• 2000

Alterations in the cellular genome affecting the expression or function of genes controlling cell growth and differentiation are considered to be the main cause of cancer. Over 30 oncogenes can be activated by insertional mutagenesis, single point mutations, chromosomal translocations and gene amplification. The ras oncogenes have been detected in $15{\sim}20%$ of human tumors that include some of the most common forms of human neoplasia and are known to acquire their transforming properties by single point mutations in two domains of their coding sequences, most commonly in codons 12 and 61. The ras gene family consists of three functional genes, N-ras, K-ras and H-ras which encode highly similar proteins of 188 or 189 amino acid residues generically known as P21. ras proteins have been shown to bind GTP and GTP, and possess intrinsic GTPase activity. Experimental study was performed to observe the mutational change of the ras gene family and apply the results to the clinical activity. 36 Golden Syrian Hamster each weighing $60{\sim}80g$ were used and painted with 0.5% DMBA by 3 times weekly on the right buccal cheek(experimental side) for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks. Left buccal cheek (control side) was treated with mineral oil as the same manner of the right side. The hamsters were sacrificed on the 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 weeks. Normal and tumor tissues from paraffin block were completely dissected by microdissection and DNA from both tissue were isolated by proteinase K/phenol/chloroform extraction. Segments of the K-ras and H-ras gene were amplified by PCR using the oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the homologous region (codon 12 and 61) of the hamster gene, and then confirmational change of ras genes was observed by SSCP and autosequencing analysis. The results were as follows : 1. Malignant lesion could be found in the experimental side from the experimental six weeks. 2. One hamster among six showed point mutation of the H-ras codon 12($G{\rightarrow}A$ transition) at the experimental 10 and 14 weeks. 3. One of six at 6 weeks, two of six at 8 weeks and one of six at 12 weeks revealed the confirmational change of the H-ras codon 61($A{\rightarrow}T$ transversion). 4. The incidence of point mutation of H-ras codon 12 and 61 were 5.5%(2 of 36) and 11%(4 of 36) respectively. 5. Point mutation of the K-ras could not be seen during the whole experimental period. Form the above results, these findings strongly support the concept that H-ras oncogenes may have the influence of the DMBA induced carcinoma of hamster buccal pouch.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8281-8285
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• 2016

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancy, infection being a serious health problem in Thailand. Recently, clarithromycin resistant H. pylori strains represent the main cause of treatment failure. Therefore this study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin in Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Suranree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Northeastern Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Thailand. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out between June 2014 and February 2015 with 300 infected patients interviewed and from whom gastric mucosa specimens were collected and proven positive by histology. The gastric mucosa specimens were tested for H. pylori and clarithromycin resistance by 23S ribosomal RNA point mutations analysis using real-time polymerase chain reactions. Correlation of eradication rates with patterns of mutation were analyzed by chi-square test. Results: Of 300 infected patients, the majority were aged between 47-61 years (31.6%), female (52.3%), with monthly income between 10,000-15,000 Baht (57%), and had a history of alcohol drinking (59.3%). Patient symptoms were abdominal pain (48.6%), followed by iron deficiency anemia (35.3%). Papaya salad consumption (40.3%) was a possible risk factor for H. pylori infection. The prevalence of H. pylori strains resistant to clarithromycin was 76.2%. Among clarithromycin-resistant strains tested, all were due to the A2144G point mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. Among mutations group, wild type genotype, mutant strain mixed wild type and mutant genotype were 23.8%, 35.7% and 40.5% respectively. With the clarithromycin-based triple therapy regimen, the efficacy decreased by 70% for H. pylori eradication (P<0.01). Conclusions: Recent results indicate a high rate of H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin. Mixed of wild type and mutant genotype is the most common mutant genotype in Nakhon Ratchasima province, therefore the use of clarithromycin-based triple therapy an not advisable as an empiric first-line regimen for H. pylori eradication in northeast region of Thailand.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.189-200
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• 2014

The tropical wet evergreen, tropical semi evergreen and moist deciduous forest types are projected to be impacted by climate change. In the Western Ghats region, a biodiversity hotspot, evergreen forests including semi evergreen account for 30% of the forest area and according to climate change impact model projections, nearly a third of these forest types are likely to undergo vegetation type change. Similarly, tropical moist deciduous forests which account for about 28% of the forest area are likely to experience change in about 20% of the area. Thus climate change could adversely impact forest biodiversity and product flow to the forest dependent households and communities in Uttara Kannada district of the Western Ghats. This study analyses the distribution of non-timber forest product yielding tree species through a network of twelve 1-ha permanent plots established in the district. Further, the extent of dependence of communities on forests is ascertained through questionnaire surveys. On an average 21% and 28% of the tree species in evergreen and deciduous forest types, respectively are, non-timber forest product yielding tree species, indicating potential high levels of supply of products to communities. Community dependence on non-timber forest products is significant, and it contributes to Rs. 1199 and Rs. 3561/household in the evergreen and deciduous zones, respectively. Given that the bulk of the forest grids in Uttara Kannada district are projected to undergo change, bulk of the species which provide multiple forest products are projected to experience die back and even mortality. Incorporation of climate change projections and impacts in forest planning and management is necessary to enable forest ecosystems to enhance resilience.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.242-247
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• 2002

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) is known to play an important role in various conditions such as inflammation, autoimmunity, apoptosis, insulin resistance and sleep induction. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been known to affect the transcriptional activities of TNF-$\alpha$: -1,031T/C, -863C/A, -857C/T, -308G/A and -238G/A. Methods: We have investigated 5 SNPs of the promoter region of TNF-$\alpha$ gene, the distribution of 5-locus TNF-$\alpha$ haplotypes, and their haplotypic associations with previously typed HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 loci in 107 healthy unrelated Koreans. TNF-$\alpha$ SNPs were typed using PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods. Results: The allele frequencies of -1,031C, -863A, -857T, -308A, and-238A, which are known as the high-producer-type, were 19.3%, 15.9%, 14.0%, 5.9%, and 2.9%, respectively. The frequency of -308A allele, known to be associated with autoimmune diseases, was 5.9% in Koreans which was lower than Caucasians (14~17%) and somewhat higher than Japanese (1.7%). Five most common TNF-$\alpha$ haplotypes (-1,031/-863/-857/-308/-238) comprised over 95% of total haplotypes: TCCGG (58.4%), CACGG (14.8%), TCTGG (13.7%), TCCAG (5.3%), and CCCGA (3.1%). Strong positive associations (P<0.001) were observed between TCCGG and B62; between CACGG and B51, $DRB1^*0901$; between TCTGG and B35, B54, B59, $DRB1^*1201$; and between TCCAG and A33, B58, $DRB1^*0301$, $DRB1^*1302$. Five most common extended haplotypes (>3%) comprised around 16% of total haplotypes: A33-B58-TCCAG-$DRB1^*1302$, A24-B52-TCCGG-$DRB1^*1502$, A33-B44-TCCGG-$DRB1^*1302$, A24-B7-TCCGG-$DRB1^*0101$, and A11-B62-TCCGG-$DRB1^*0406$. The distribution of extended HLA and TNF-$\alpha$ haplotypes showed that most of HLA haplotypes were almost exclusively associated with particular TNF-$\alpha$ haplotypes. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study would be useful as basic data for anthropologic studies and disease association studies in Koreans.

• 마이크로전자및패키징학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2014

최근 유기태양전지의 효율향상을 위하여 고분자의 PEDOT:PSS 양극(Anode) 버퍼층이 널리 사용되고 있다. 그러나 고효율 태양전지의 개발과 더불어 새로이 적용되고 있는 역구조 유기 태양전지에는 이 같은 친수성의 PEDOT:PSS 고분자가 소수성의 양극이나 광활성층 상에 균일하게 코팅되는 것이 문제점으로 지적되고 있다. 이러한 문제점을 극복하기 위해서 양극 버퍼층으로 $V_2O_5$와 같은 p-type 금속산화물을 사용한 연구가 많이 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 저항을 낮추고 홀 이동도를 향상 시키기 위해 Ag를 삽입층으로 한 $V_2O_5$/Ag/ITO 구조의 다층 박막을 제작하고 Ag두께에 따른 전기적, 광학적, 구조적 특성의 변화에 대하여 살펴보았다. 가시광 영역에서는 Ag 두께가 증가함에 따라 광 투과율이 감소하는 반면 전기적 특성은 향상되는 것을 볼 수 있었다. 광소자의 투명전극산화물로 적합한 구조인지 평가하기 위해 Figure Of Merit(FOM)의 값을 측정하였고, 그 결과 Ag의 두께가 4 nm에서 가장 좋은 특성을 나타냈다. $V_2O_5$/Ag/ITO 구조의 다층 박막은 가시광 영역에서 Ag의 두께가 4 nm일 때 88%의 광 투과율을 나타내었고 저항 값은 $4{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}cm$로써 광소자로 적합한 구조임을 확인하였다.