• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.457-461
• /
• 1998

The vesicle system of DPPC(dipalmitoylphosphaticylcholine)/Chol(Cholesterol) has been modified by incorporating various mole fractions of flourinated surfactant($C_8F_{17}(CH_2)_2OCO-CH_2CH(SO_3Na)COO(CH_2)_2C_8F_{17}$. Sodium bis(1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecaflurododecyl)-2-sulfosuccinate, FS)/fluorinated fatty acid salt ($C_7F_{15}COONH_4$, ammoniumpentadecaflurooctyrate, FFS), and their physicochemical properties have been investigated in an attempt to enhance the stability of phospholipid vesicle system. The ${\zeta}$-potential measurement by use of Zetamaster sub-micron Particle Electrophoresis Analyzer (Malvern Co.) showed that a charged homogeneous DPPC/Chol/FS vesicle has been formed owing to the incorporated FFS effect on the membrane, playing a role as a cosurfactant in the bilayer between DPPC and FS components. With increase in the concentration of FFS, it was found that the particle size and also surface charge of the DPPC/Chol/FS vesicle decreased. The stability of DPPC/Chol/FS/FFS liposome was found to be enhanced significantly compared to that of DPPC/Chol/FS according to the dispersity change as a function of time. The release rate of dye molecule of Methylene Blue from the DPPC/Chol/FS/FFS vesicle was determined to be slower than that of DPPC/Chol/FS system, and it may be attributed to the increase in microviscosity of the hydrophobic region in the bilayer. The affinfinity of DPPC/Chol/FS/FFS vesicles to albumin was found to be slightly lowered compared to that of DPPC/Chol/FS. Based on these findings, it was confirmed that a more stable and homogeneous vesicle system of DPPC/Chol/FS could be prepared by addition of FFS, acting as a cosurfactant in the aggregate formation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.137-150
• /
• 2007

Trees emit phytoncide into atmosphere to protect them from predation. Phytoncide from different trees has its own unique fragrance that is referred to as forest bath. Phytoncide, which is essential oil of trees, has microbicidal, insecticidal, acaricidal, and deodorizing effect. The present study was performed to examine the effect of phytoncide on Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is one of the most important causative agents of periodontitis and halitosis. P. gingivalis 2561 was incubated with or without phytoncide extracted from Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.; Japanese cypress) and then changes were observed in its cell viability, antibiotic sensitivity, morphology, and biochemical/molecular biological pattern. The results were as follows: 1. The phytoncide appeared to have a strong antibacterial effect on P. gingivalis. MIC of phytoncide for the bacterium was determined to be 0.008%. The antibacterial effect was attributed to bactericidal activity against P. gingivalis. It almost completely suppressed the bacterial cell viability (>99.9%) at the concentration of 0.01%, which is the MBC for the bacterium. 2. The phytoncide failed to enhance the bacterial susceptibility to ampicillin, cefotaxime, penicillin, and tetracycline but did increase the susceptibility to amoxicillin. 3. Numbers of electron dense granules, ghost cell, and vesicles increased with increasing concentration of the phytoncide, 4. RT-PCR analysis revealed that expression of superoxide dismutase was increased in the bacterium incubated with the phytoncide. 5. No distinct difference in protein profile between the bacterium incubated with or without the phytoncide was observed as determined by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot. Overall results suggest that the phytoncide is a strong antibacterial agent that has a bactericidal action against P. gingivalis. The phytoncide does not seem to affect much the profile of the major outer membrane proteins but interferes with antioxidant activity of the bacterium. Along with this, yet unknown mechanism may cause changes in cell morphology and eventually cell death.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.95-100
• /
• 2007

The cellulase gene of Bacillus licheniformis K11 which has plant growth-promoting activity by auxin and antagonistic ability by siderophore was cloned in pUC18 using PCR employing heterologous primers. The 1.6kb PCR fragment contained the full sequence of the cellulase gene, denoted celW which has been reported to encode a 499 amino acid protein. Similarity search in protein data base revealed that the cellulase from B. licheniformis K11 was more than 97% identical in amino acid sequence to those of various Bacillus spp. The cellulase protein from B. licheniformis K11, overproduced in E. coli DH5${\alpha}$ by the lac promoter on the vector, had apparent molecular weight of 55 kDa upon CMC-SDS-PAGE analysis. The protein not only had enzymatic activity toward carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC), but also was able to degrade insoluble cellulose, such as Avicel and filter paper (Whatman$^{\circledR}$ No. 1). In addition, the cellulase could degrade a fungal cell wall of Phytophthora capsici. Consequently B. licheniformis K11 was able to suppress the peperblight causing P. capsici by its cellulase. Biochemical analysis showed that the enzyme had a maximum activity at 60$^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0. Also, the enzyme activity was activated by Co$^{2+}$ of Mn$^{2+}$ but inhibited by Fe$^{3+}$ or Hg$^{2+}$. Moreover, enzyme activity was not inhibited by SDS or sodium azide.