• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.68-75
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• 2000

D-Tagatose is a potential bulking agent in food as a non-calorific sweetener. To produce D-tagatose from cheaper resources, plasmids harboring the L-arabinose isomerase gene (araA) from Escherichia coli was constructed because L-arabinose isomerase was previously suggested as an enzyme that mediates the bioconversion of galactose to tagatose as well as that of arabinose to ribulose. In the cultures of recombinant E.coli with pTC101, which harboring araA of E.coli, tagatose was produced from galactose in 9.9 % yield. The enzyme extract of E.coli containing pTC101 also converted galactose into tagatose in 96.4 % yield. For the economic production of D-tagatose, an L-arabinose isomerase of E.coli was immobilized using covalent binding on agarose. While the free L-arabinose isomerase produced tagatose with the rate of 0.48 mg/U$.$day, the immobilized one stably converted galactose into average 7.5 g/l$.$day of tagatose during 7 days with higher productivity of 0.87 mg/U$.$day. In the scaled up immobilized enzyme system, 99.9 g/l of tagatose was produced from galactose with 20 % equilibrium in 48 hrs. The process was stably repeated additional 2 times with tagatose production of 104.1 and 103.5 g/l.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2014

During long standing hyperglycaemic state in diabetes mellitus, glucose forms covalent adducts with the plasma proteins through a non-enzymatic process known as glycation. Protein glycation and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications like retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, cardiomyopathy along with some other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and aging. Glycation of proteins interferes with their normal functions by disrupting molecular conformation, altering enzymatic activity, and interfering with receptor functioning. AGEs form intra- and extracellular cross linking not only with proteins, but with some other endogenous key molecules including lipids and nucleic acids to contribute in the development of diabetic complications. Recent studies suggest that AGEs interact with plasma membrane localized receptors for AGEs (RAGE) to alter intracellular signaling, gene expression, release of pro-inflammatory molecules and free radicals. The present review discusses the glycation of plasma proteins such as albumin, fibrinogen, globulins and collagen to form different types of AGEs. Furthermore, the role of AGEs in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications including retinopathy, cataract, neuropathy, nephropathy and cardiomyopathy is also discussed.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.05
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• pp.47-50
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• 1997

We synthesized N-Hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS) azidobenzoate as a cross-linking reagent for immobilization of peptide onto the solid surface. Thin polystyrene(PS) films spin-coated with a NHS azidobenzoate solution were exposed with ultraviolet light at 245nm$(3.3mW/cm^2)$ for 5 min. The NHS active ester groups became covalently attached to the polymer via photogenerated, highly reactive nitrene intermediates derived from NHS azidobenzoate. Using this technique, it is demonstrated that well-defined surface regions can be functionalized with a minimum observable feature size of 1mm for UV exposure. Through reaction of this functionalized PS surface with primary amine-containing biomolecules, biological molecule had been immobilized on the polymer surface.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.478-482
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• 2010

A series of molecular dynamic (MD), finite element (FE) and ab initio simulations are carried out to establish suitable modeling schemes for the continuum-based analysis of aluminum matrix nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). From a comparison of the MD with FE models and inferences based on bond structures and electron distributions, we propose that the effective thickness of a CNT wall for its continuum representation should be related to the graphitic inter-planar spacing of 3.4${\AA}$. We also show that shell element representation of a CNT structure in the FE models properly simulated the carbon-carbon covalent bonding and long-range interactions in terms of the load-displacement behaviors. Estimation of the effective interfacial elastic properties by ab initio simulations showed that the in-plane interfacial bond strength is negligibly weaker than the normal counterpart due to the nature of the weak secondary bonding at the CNT-Al interface. Therefore, we suggest that a third-phase solid element representation of the CNT-Al interface in nanocomposites is not physically meaningful and that spring or bar element representation of the weak interfacial bonding would be more appropriate as in the cases of polymer matrix counterparts. The possibility of treating the interface as a simply contacted phase boundary is also discussed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.77-85
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• 2015

One of the key factors of early development is the specification of competence between the oocyte and the sperm, which occurs during gametogenesis. However, the starting point, growth, and maturation for acquiring competence during spermatogenesis and oogenesis in mammals are very different. Spermatogenesis includes spermiogenesis, but such a metamorphosis is not observed during oogenesis. Glycosylation, a ubiquitous modification, is a preliminary requisite for distribution of the structural and functional components of spermatids for metamorphosis. In addition, glycosylation using epididymal or female genital secretory glycans is an important process for the sperm maturation, the acquisition of the potential for fertilization, and the acceleration of early embryo development. However, nonemzymatic unexpected covalent bonding of a carbohydrate and malglycosylation can result in falling fertility rates as shown in the diabetic male. So far, glycosylation during spermatogenesis and the dynamics of the plasma membrane in the process of capacitation and fertilization have been evaluated, and a powerful role of glycosylation in spermatogenesis and early development is also suggested by structural bioinformatics, functional genomics, and functional proteomics. Further understanding of glycosylation is needed to provide a better understanding of fertilization and embryo development and for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for infertility.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3654-3658
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• 2013

The synthesis of a DO3A conjugate of [(p-aniline benzothiazole)methyl]pyridine ($L^2H_3$) and its gadolinium complex of the type [$Gd(L^2)(H_2O)$] ($GdL^2$) is described. The $R_1$ relaxivity ($=4.50mM^{-1}sec^{-1}$) and kinetic inertness of $GdL^2$ compares well with those of structurally analogous Dotarem$^{(R)}$ ($R_1=3.70mM^{-1}sec^{-1}$), a typical extracellular (ECF) MRI contrast agent (CA). Yet, by comparison with Dotarem$^{(R)}$, $GdL^2$ exhibits non-covalent interactions with human serum albumin (HSA) as evidenced by the ${\varepsilon}^*$ titration curve along with in vivo MR signal enhancement in both aorta and heart. Liver-specific nature of $GdL^2$ is also observed as excretion is made through gallbladder. Most notably, $GdL^2$ further demonstrates specificity toward the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer.

• Carbon letters
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• v.20
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• pp.53-61
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• 2016

The reportedly synergistic effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene hybrids have prompted strong demand for an efficient modifier to enhance their dispersion. Here, we investigated the ability of poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) to overcome the van der Waals interaction of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) and graphene by employing a simple wrapping process involving ultrasonication and subsequent centrifugation of PAN/MWCNT/graphene solutions. The physical wrapping of MWCNTs and graphene with PAN was investigated for various PAN concentrations, in an attempt to simplify and improve the polymer-wrapping process. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the wrapping of the MWCNTs and graphene with PAN layers. The interaction between the graphitic structure and the PAN molecules was examined using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The obtained results revealed that the cyano groups of the PAN molecules facilitated adhesion of the PAN molecules to the MWCNTs and graphene for polymer wrapping. The resulting enhanced dispersion of MWCNTs and graphene was verified from zeta potential and shelf-life measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2008

Zeta potential, sedimentation bulk density and rheology in the dispersion system have been studied in terms of solid loading (40-55 vol%), and types of additives. Ammonium polymethacrylate, glycerol, ethoxylated acetylenic diol, and polyvinyl alcohol have been used as the dispersant, cryo-protectant, surfactant, and binder, respectively. Sedimentation density greatly increased upon adding dispersant; the effect was more pronounced with ionic alumina suspension compared with covalent silicon carbide. With further addition of cryo-protectant and surfactant to dispersant, the sedimentation density increased somewhat. The suspension viscosity generally behaviored in an opposite manner to the sedimentation density, i.e., high sedimentation gave low high-shear viscosity, indicative of low order structure formation in the suspended particles. Shear rate rheology in shear rate of $2-300\;sec^{-1}$ showed a shear thinning and its onset began at similar shear rate (${\sim}100\;sce^{-1}$), regardless of solid loading.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 1998

The present work proposes a simple electrochemical method applicable to any immobilization processes of oxidase using a Clark type oxygen electrode as a base transducer. The present work suggests an optimal immobilization technique among three different methods of glucose oxidase(GOD) onto one side of $37[\mu}$mthick blend membranes, composed o 80% of cellulose triacetate and 20% of polycaprolactone, on the basis of the maximum Michaelis-Menten parameter(Vm) determined by either steady state or transient analyses. The electrode system was made of disk type gold cathode(4mm diameter) and Ag/AgCl anode. One side of the blend membrane was in contact with the cathode surface while the other side was immobilized with GOD either in covalent-bond or cross-linked forms, the latter being covered by $25{\mu}$m thick dialysis membrane of cellulose acetate. The resultant current density was on-line monitored by a potentiostat while glucose level was varied from 1 to 20 mM. The present study shows that direct cross-linking of GOD with glutaraldehyde was mostly preferred for fabrication of glucose sensor, on the basis of resultant kinetic parameters from either steady state or transient analyses.

• Carbon letters
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 2006

Graphite has hexagonal closed packing structure with two bonding characteristics of van der Waals bonding between the carbon layers at c axis, and covalent bonding in the carbon layer at a and b axis. Graphite has high tolerant to the extreme conditions of high temperature and neutron irradiations rather than any other materials of metals and ceramics. However, carbon elements easily react with oxygen at as low as 400C. Considering the increasing production of today of hydrogen and electricity with a nuclear reactor, study of oxidation characteristics of graphite is very important, and essential for the life evaluation and design of the nuclear reactor. Since the oxidation behaviors of graphite are dependent on the shapes of testing specimen, critical care is required for evaluation of nuclear reactor graphite materials. In this work, oxidation rate and amounts of the isotropic graphite (IG-110, Toyo Carbon), currently being used for the Koran nuclear reactor, are investigated at various temperature. Oxidation process or principle of graphite was figured out by measuring the oxidation rate, and relation between oxidation rate and sample shape are understood. In the oxidation process, shape effect of volume, surface area, and surface to volume ratio are investigated at $600^{\circ}C$, based on the sample of ASTM C 1179-91.