• Title/Summary/Keyword: Molecular Communication

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Picomolar Scale Determination of Carbohydrates Covalently Immobilized on Activated Beads Using Hydroxyl Functionality

  • Yu, Jae-Hoon;Chun, Sung-Min;Park, Ho-Koon;Park, Yong-Keun;Jeong, Sun-Joo
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.98-102
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    • 1999
  • Since carbohydrates are major mediators in cell-to-cell adhesion and communication, the development of specific and strong binders against them could generate promising therapeutics. As the first step towards that goal, sugar molecules have to be immobilized to be used as an affinity matrix. The amino functionality in sugar is the most active nucleophile for the immobilization, if the amino group is available. An alternative and general method is to use the hydroxyl group as a direct nucleophile, but the quantitation of immobilized hydroxyl groups is not easily done. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a method to immobilize various isomers of monosaccharides with p-nitrophenyl groups to the beads by using their hydroxyl groups. It was found that the amount of immobilized sugar was independent of the structure of the sugar, but was dependent on the number of hydroxyl groups. We also developed a sensitive method to quantify the amount of immobilized sugar at the picomolar scale by utilizing commercially available glycosidases to release a sensitive reporter molecule, p-nitrophenol, and detect it by HPLC. This new technique would allow a facile quantitation method for immobilized sugar molecules, which could be used as the affinity matrix to develop strong binders against biologically important sugars.

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Extracellular vesicles as emerging intercellular communicasomes

  • Yoon, Yae Jin;Kim, Oh Youn;Gho, Yong Song
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.47 no.10
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    • pp.531-539
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    • 2014
  • All living cells release extracellular vesicles having pleiotropic functions in intercellular communication. Mammalian extracellular vesicles, also known as exosomes and microvesicles, are spherical bilayered proteolipids composed of various bioactive molecules, including RNAs, DNAs, proteins, and lipids. Extracellular vesicles directly and indirectly control a diverse range of biological processes by transferring membrane proteins, signaling molecules, mRNAs, and miRNAs, and activating receptors of recipient cells. The active interaction of extracellular vesicles with other cells regulates various physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent developments in high-throughput proteomics, transcriptomics, and lipidomics tools have provided ample data on the common and specific components of various types of extracellular vesicles. These studies may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in vesicular cargo sorting and the biogenesis of extracellular vesicles, and, further, to the identification of disease-specific biomarkers. This review focuses on the components, functions, and therapeutic and diagnostic potential of extracellular vesicles under various pathophysiological conditions.

Microflow Photochemistry - Acetone sensitized Addition of Isopropanol to (5R)-5-Menthyloxy-2-(5H)-furanone

  • Aida, Shin;Nishiyama, Yasuhiro;Kakiuchi, Kiyomi;Hoffmann, Norbert;Fon, Adeline;Oelgemoller, Michael
    • Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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    • v.2 no.3
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    • pp.68-71
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    • 2013
  • Acetone sensitized photoadditions of isopropanol to (5R)-5-menthyloxy-2-(5H)-furanone were investigated in two different microflow reactor systems. Setup A employed a commercially available glass reactor under a UVB-panel. Setup B utilized a FEP microcapillary wrapped tightly around a Pyrex cylinder with a single UVB fluorescent tube at its center. The reactions under flow conditions were subsequently compared to analogue reactions conducted in a batch chamber reactor. Overall, the microflow systems gave faster conversions and higher isolated yields. The flexible microcapillary setup, however, showed the best performance and promise in terms of future scale-up and reactor optimization.

Regulation of CMGC kinases by hypoxia

  • KyeongJin Kim;Sang Bae Lee
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.56 no.11
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    • pp.584-593
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    • 2023
  • Hypoxia, a widespread occurrence observed in various malignant tumors, results from rapid tumor growth that outpaces the oxygen supply. Tumor hypoxia precipitates several effects on tumor biology; these include activating angiogenesis, intensifying invasiveness, enhancing the survival of tumor cells, suppressing anti-tumor immunity, and fostering resistance to therapy. Aligned with the findings that correlate CMGC kinases with the regulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF), a pivotal modulator, reports also indicate that hypoxia governs the activity of CMGC kinases, including DYRK1 kinases. Prolyl hydroxylation of DYRK1 kinases by PHD1 constitutes a novel mechanism of kinase maturation and activation. This modification "primes" DYRK1 kinases for subsequent tyrosine autophosphorylation, a vital step in their activation cascade. This mechanism adds a layer of intricacy to comprehending the regulation of CMGC kinases, and underscores the complex interplay between distinct post-translational modifications in harmonizing precise kinase activity. Overall, hypoxia assumes a substantial role in cancer progression, influencing diverse aspects of tumor biology that include angiogenesis, invasiveness, cell survival, and resistance to treatment. CMGC kinases are deeply entwined in its regulation. To fathom the molecular mechanisms underpinning hypoxia's impact on cancer cells, comprehending how hypoxia and prolyl hydroxylation govern the activity of CMGC kinases, including DYRK1 kinases, becomes imperative. This insight may pave the way for pioneering therapeutic approaches that target the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and its associated challenges.

Intercellular Trafficking of Homeodomain Proteins

  • Kim, Seon-Won;Moon, Jun-Yeon;Jung, Jin-Hee;Chen, Xiongyan;Shi, Chunlin;Rim, Yeong-Gil;Kwon, Hey-Jin;Jackson, David;Datla, Raju;Joliot, Alain;Kim, Jae-Yean
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.21-26
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    • 2005
  • Homeotic proteins have pivotal roles during the development of both plant and animals. Many homeotic proteins exert control over cell fate in cells where their genes are not expressed, i.e., in a non-cell autonomous manner. Cell-to-cell communication, which delivers critical information for position-dependent specification of cell fate, is an essential biological process in multicellular organisms. In plants, there are two pathways for intercellular communication that have been identified: the ligand/receptor-mediated apoplastic pathway and the plasmodesmata-mediated symplasmic pathway. Regulatory proteins and RNAs traffic symplasmically via plasmodesmata and play a critical role in intercellular communication. Thus, the non-cell autonomous function of homeotic proteins can be explained by the recent discovery of cell-to-cell trafficking of proteins or RNAs. This article specifically focuses on understanding the intercellular movement of homeodomain proteins, a family of homeotic proteins.

Programmed APTES and OTS Patterns for the Multi-Channel FET of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT 다중채널 FET용 표면 프로그램된 APTES와 OTS 패턴을 이용한 공정에 대한 연구)

  • Kim, Byung-Cheul;Kim, Joo-Yeon;An, Ho-Myoung
    • The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.37-44
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    • 2015
  • In this paper, we have investigated a selective assembly method of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on a silicon substrate using only photolithographic process and then proposed a fabrication method of field effect transistors (FETs) using SWCNT-based patterns. The aminopropylethoxysilane (APTES) patterns, which are formed for positively charged surface molecular patterns, are utilized to assemble and align millions of SWCNTs and we can more effectively assemble on a silicon (Si) surface using this method than assembly processes using only the 1-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). We investigated a selective assembly method of SWCNTs on a Si surface using surface-programmed APTES and OTS patterns and then a fabrication method of FETs. photoresist(PR) patterns were made using photolithographic process on the silicon dioxide (SiO2) grown Si substrate and the substrate was placed in the OTS solution (1:500 v/v in anhydrous hexane) to cover the bare SiO2 regions. After removing the PR, the substrate was placed in APTES solution to backfill the remaining SiO2 area. This surface-programmed substrate was placed into a SWCNT solution dispersed in dichlorobenzene. SWCNTs were attracted toward the positively charged molecular regions, and aligned along the APTES patterns. On the contrary, SWCNT were not assembled on the OTS patterns. In this process, positively charged surface molecular patterns are utilized to direct the assembly of negatively charged SWCNT on SiO2. As a result, the selectively assembled SWCNT channels can be obtained between two electrodes(source and drain electrodes). Finally, we can successfully fabricate SWCNT-based multi-channel FETs by using our self-assembled monolayer method.

The potential theragnostic (diagnostic+therapeutic) application of exosomes in diverse biomedical fields

  • Kim, Yong-Seok;Ahn, Jae-Sung;Kim, Semi;Kim, Hyun-Jin;Kim, Shin-Hee;Kang, Ju-Seop
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.113-125
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    • 2018
  • Exosomes are membranous vesicles of 30-150 nm in diameter that are derived from the exocytosis of the intraluminal vesicles of many cell types including immune cells, stem cells, cardiovascular cells and tumor cells. Exosomes participate in intercellular communication by delivering their contents to recipient cells, with or without direct contact between cells, and thereby influence physiological and pathological processes. They are present in various body fluids and contain proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and microRNAs that can be transported to surrounding cells. Theragnosis is a concept in next-generation medicine that simultaneously combines accurate diagnostics with therapeutic effects. Molecular components in exosomes have been found to be related to certain diseases and treatment responses, indicating that they may have applications in diagnosis via molecular imaging and biomarker detection. In addition, recent studies have reported that exosomes have immunotherapeutic applications or can act as a drug delivery system for targeted therapies with drugs and biomolecules. In this review, we describe the formation, structure, and physiological roles of exosomes. We also discuss their roles in the pathogenesis and progression of diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The potential applications of exosomes for theragnostic purposes in various diseases are also discussed. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the physiological and pathological roles of exosomes as well as their diagnostic and therapeutic uses, including emerging exosome-based therapies that could not be applied until now.

Photocatalytic Systems of Pt Nanoparticles and Molecular Co Complexes for NADH Regeneration and Enzyme-coupled CO2 Conversion

  • Kim, Ellen;Jeon, Minkyung;Kim, Soojin;Yadav, Paras Nath;Jeong, Kwang-Duk;Kim, Jinheung
    • Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.42-45
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    • 2013
  • Natural photosynthesis utilizes solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water to energy-rich carbohydrates. Substantial use of sunlight to meet world energy demands requires energy storage in useful fuels via chemical bonds because sunlight is intermittent. Artificial photosynthesis research focuses the fundamental natural process to design solar energy conversion systems. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ($NAD^+$) and $NADP^+$ are ubiquitous as electron transporters in biological systems. Enzymatic, chemical, and electrochemical methods have been reported for NADH regeneration. As photochemical systems, visible light-driven catalytic activity of NADH regeneration was carried out using platinum nanoparticles, molecular rhodium and cobalt complexes in the presence of triethanolamine as a sacrificial electron donor. Pt nanoparticles showed photochemical NADH regeneration activity without additional visible light collector molecules, demonstrating that both photoactivating and catalytic activities exist together in Pt nanoparticles. The NADH regeneration of the Pt nanoparticle system was not interfered with the reduction of $O_2$. Molecular cobalt complexes containing dimethylglyoxime ligands also transfer their hydrides to $NAD^+$ with photoactivation of eosin Y in the presence of TEOA. In this photocatalytic reaction, the $NAD^+$ reduction process competed with a proton reduction.

System Design and Performance Analysis of $MnO_2$ Pseudo-capacitor for Digital Communication Applications (디지털 통신 응용을 위한 $MnO_2$, Pseudo-capacitor의 시스템 설계 및 성능평가)

  • Seong W. K.;Hong M. S.;Kim S. W.
    • Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.241-245
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    • 2000
  • The objective of this work Is to design, fabricate, and characterize pseudo-capacitor using amorphous $MnO_2\;nH_2O$ electrode material. The cyclic voltammogram under 100mV/s scan rate of the material shows the electrochemically stable potential window of 1V and the specific capacitance of 250F/g. The TDMA pulse test result indicates that the TDMA system (2 parallel-pseudo-capacitor systems) has the ohmic voltage drop of 0.22V and the capacitor voltage drop of 0.38V. The total voltage drop of the TDMA system is 0.60V and less than 1V of which value is the maximum voltage drop requirement or the TDMA satellite phone. Also, the TDMA system had the ESR of $55m{\Omega}$ and the capacitance of 105mF. Therefore, it is confirmed that the TDMA system has the application feasibility as load-leveling capacitor for the satellite phone.

Lasing Characteristics of GaAs-Based 1300 nm Wavelength Region InAs Quantum Dot Laser Diode (GaAs 기반 1300 nm 파장대역 InAs 양자점 레이저 다이오드의 발진 특성)

  • Kim, K.W.;Choa, N.K.;Song, J.D.;Lee, J.I.;Park, Jeong-Ho;Lee, Y.J.;Choi, W.J.
    • Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.266-271
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    • 2009
  • We have investigated the lasing characteristics of GaAs-based 1300 nm wavelength region InAs Quantum Dot Laser Diode grown by Migration Enhanced Molecular Beam Epitaxy. Under a pulsed and CW operation, we observed the state switching of lasing wavelength from ground state (1302 nm) to excited state (1206 nm) due to the gain saturation of ground state. Under a pulsed operation, $J_{th}=92A/cm^2$, $\lambda_L=1311\;nm$ and under a CW operation, $J_{th}=247A/cm^2$, $\lambda_L=1320\;nm$.