• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.171-171
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• 2011

Co and Fe doped multi-wall carbon nano-tubes (MWCNTs) synthesized by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique are investigated with synchrotron radiations at Pohang Light Source (PAL) and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). Near edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) measurement at C K, Co $L_{3,2}$ and Fe $L_{3,2}$-edges, and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at Co and Fe $L_{3,2}$-edges have been carried at 7B1 XAS KIST and 2A MS beamline, respectively, to understand the electronic structure and responsible magnetic interactions at room temperature. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at C K-edge shows significant p-bonding and Co and Fe L-edges proves the presence of $Co^{2+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$ in octahedral symmetry. Co and Fe doped MWCNTs show good XMCD spectra at 300K. The effect on the magnetism is also studied through swift heavy ion (SHI) radiations and magnetism is found enhanced and change in the electronic structure in Co-CNTs is investigated.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.2771-2775
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• 2010

We present a rapid biogenic method for the production of nanoscale gold particles using pear extract. The formation and stability of pear-derived gold nanoparticles (Pear-AuNPs) were monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Their morphology, elemental composition and crystalline phase were determined by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The average core size of crystalline Pear-AuNPs was in the range of $10{\pm}5\;nm$ and the observed morphology was spherical. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum showed a strong peak for the pure 'Au' phase. The circular dichroism spectrum indicated the natural capping ability of the pear extract, which generated peptide-gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were stable in aqueous solution for two months. A cell viability assay of Pear-AuNPs showed biocompatibility with human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Accordingly, this eco-friendly process for the bio-mimetic production of Pear-AuNPs is nontoxic in nature; consequently, it will find potential application in nano-biotechnology.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.460-465
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• 2004

A 16-residue polypeptide model with the sequence acetyl-YALSLAATLLKEAASL-OH was derived by rational de novo peptide design. The designed sequence consists of amino acid residues with high propensity to adopt an alpha helical conformation, and sequential order was arranged to produce an amphipathic surface. The designed sequence was chemically synthesized using a solid-phase method and the polypeptide was purified by reverse-phase liquid chromatography. Molecular mass analysis by electro-spray ionization mass spectroscopy confirmed the correct designed sequence. Structural characterization by circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated that the peptide adopts the expected alpha helical conformation in 50% acetonitrile solution. Liposome binding assay using Small Unilamellar Vesicle (SUV) showed a marked release of entrapped glucose by interaction between the lipid membrane and the tested peptide. The channel-forming activity of the peptide was revealed by a planar lipid bilayer experiment. An analysis of the conducting current at various applied potentials suggested that the peptide forms a cationic ion channel with an intrinsic conductance of 188 pS. These results demonstrate that a simple rational de novo design can be successfully employed to create short peptides with desired structures and functions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.377-377
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• 2010

FINEMET type nanocrystalline materials synthesized by controlled crystallization of amorphous ribbons[1] exhibit excellent soft magnetic properties making them attractive for technological applications. Present work reports the electronic structure studies of Co-substituted FINEMET to get information on the effect of successive Co substitution on local environment around Fe and Co atom by using near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements. NEXAFS spectroscopy and XMCD measurements have been carried out at Fe $L_{3,2}$ and Co $L_{3,2}$-edges to investigate the chemical states and electronic structure of FINEMET [$(Fe_{100-x}Co_x)_{78}Si_9Nb_3Cu_1Ba$](0$L_{3,2}$-edge reveal that Fe is in 2+ state and in tetrahedral symmetry with other elements. The magnetic properties exhibiting soft magnetic behavior[2] are discussed on the basis of the electronic structure studied through XMCD.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2021

Four compounds were isolated from Salvia plebeia aerial parts. Silica gel open column chromatography with a gradient elution system was used to isolate and purify these compounds. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy were used for structural elucidation and identification, while electronic circular dichroism was used to confirm the absolute configuration. The structures were determined to be 𝛽-sitosterol (1), (-)-1S,5S,8S,10R-1-acetoxy-8-hydroxy-2-oxoeudesman-3,7(11)-dien-8,12-olide (2), ursolic acid (3), and N-methylhydroxylamine (4). Compounds 2 and 4 were isolated for the first time from this plant. Compound 2 was quantitatively analyzed via HPLC/UV. The results showed that the methanol extract of S. plebeia had a higher content of compound 2 (1.20 mg/g) than the ethanol extract (0.55 mg/g). This study could be used as a preliminary step in conducting HPLC/UV analysis of sesquiterpenoids in S. plebeia extract to assess their bioavailability and potency.

• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1190-1195
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• 2018

By employing soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and photoemission spectroscopy (PES), we have investigated the electronic structure of the candidate zero-moment half-metallic $Mn_3Ga$. We have studied the ball-milled and annealed $Mn_3Ga$ powder samples that exhibit nearly zero magnetization. Mn 2p XAS revealed that Mn ions in $Mn_3Ga$ are nearly divalent for both of the Mn ions having the locally octahedral symmetry and those having the locally tetrahedral symmetry. The measured Mn 2p XMCD spectrum of $Mn_3Ga$ is very similar to that of ferrimagnetic $MnFe_2O_4$ having divalent Mn ions. The sum-rule analysis of the Mn 2p XMCD spectrum shows that both the spin and orbital magnetic moments of Mn ions in $Mn_3Ga$ are negligibly small, in agreement with the nearly compensated-ferrimagnetic ground state of $Mn_3Ga$. The valence-band PES spectrum of $Mn_3Ga$ agrees well with the calculated density of states, supporting the half-metallic electronic structure of $Mn_3Ga$.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.198-203
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• 2011

The electronic structure of ferrimagnetic spinel oxide of $FeV_2O_4$ has been investigated by employing soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and soft x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The Fe 2p and V 2p XAS spectra show that the valence states of Fe and V ions are ${\sim}Fe^{2.3+}$ mixed-valent states and ${\sim}V^{3+}$ states, respectively. In Fe 2p XMCD spectra, finite XMCD signals are observed for divalent $Fe^{2+}$ states only, but not for $Fe^{3+}$ states. This finding indicates that the magnetic moments of $Fe^{2+}$ ions are ordered ferromagnetically but that those of $Fe^{3+}$ ions are cancelled, implying that $Fe^{2+}$ ions play an important role in determining magnetic properties of $FeV_2O_4$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2015

GAM-1 and GAM-2, two themostable glucoamylases from Aspergillus niger B-30, possess different molecular masses, glycosylation, and thermal stability. In the present study, the effects of additives on the thermal inactivation of GAM-1 and GAM-2 were investigated. The half-lives of GAM-1 and GAM-2 at 70℃ were 45 and 216 min, respectively. Data obtained from fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, UV absorption spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering demonstrated that during the thermal inactivation progress, combined with the loss of the helical structure and a majority of the tertiary structure, tryptophan residues were partially exposed and further led to glucoamylases aggregating. The thermal stability of GAM-1 and GAM-2 was largely improved in the presence of sorbitol and trehalose. Results from spectroscopy and Native-PAGE confirmed that sorbitol and trehalose maintained the native state of glucoamylases and prevented their thermal aggregation. The loss of hydrophobic bonding and helical structure was responsible for the decrease of glucoamylase activity. Additionally, sorbitol and trehalose significantly increased the substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency of the two glucoamylases. Our results display an insight into the thermal inactivation of glucoamylases and provide an important base for industrial applications of the thermally stable glucoamylases.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1728-1734
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• 2005

The interactions of Cu(II)-meso-Tetrakis(n-N-methylpyridiniumyl)porphyrin (n = 2,3,4), respectively referred to as o-, m- and p-CuTMPyP, and DNA, poly$[d(A-T)_2]$ and poly$[d(G-C)_2]$ were investigated by circular and linear dichroism (CD and LD). In the o-CuTMPyP case, in which the rotation of the pyridinium ring is prevented, the shape of the CD spectrum when associated to DNA and poly$[d(A-T)_2]$ resembles and is characterized by a positive band at a low drug to DNA concentration ratio (R ratio) and is bisignate at a high R ratio. The former CD spectrum shape has been attributed to porphyrin that is bound monomerically outside of DNA while the latter can be attributed to those that are stacked. When o-CuTMPyP is bound to poly$[d(G-C)_2]$, the excitonic CD appeared at a relatively high R ratio. In contrast, a characteristic negative CD band in the Soret region was apparent for both m- and p-CuTMPyP when bound to DNA and poly$[d(G-C)_2]$ at the low R ratios, indicating that the porphyrin molecule intercalates. However, the DNA is bent near the intercalation site and the plane of the porphyrin molecule tilts relative to the DNA helix axis, as judged by the magnitude of the reduced LD. Various stacking patterns were identified by the shape of the CD spectrum for m- and p-CuTMPyP when bound to poly$[d(A-T)_2]$. Three species for the former complex and two for the latter complex were found which may reflect the extent of the stacking.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.518-527
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• 2015

Controlled release of medications remains the most convenient way to deliver drugs. In this study, we precipitated gold nanoparticles with quercetin. We loaded gold-quercetin into poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (NQ) and tested the biological activity of NQ on HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells to acquire the sustained release property. We determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy that NQ effectively caused conformational changes in DNA and modulated different proteins related to epigenetic modifications and c ell cycle control. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA damage, and caspase 3 activity were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression profiles of different anti- and pro-apoptotic as well as epigenetic signals were studied by immunoblotting. A cytotoxicity assay indicated that NQ preferentially killed cancer cells, compared to normal cells. NQ interacted with HepG2 cell DNA and reduced histone deacetylases to control cell proliferation and arrest the cell cycle at the sub-G stage. Activities of cell cycle-related proteins, such as $p21^{WAF}$, cdk1, and pAkt, were modulated. NQ induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells by activating p53-ROS crosstalk and induces epigenetic modifications leading to inhibited proliferation and cell cycle arrest.