• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.958-964
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• 2008

In this work, micro-sized dextran particles, which have recently been focused as one of the candidate materials for the Drug Delivery System(DDS), were prepared by means of the Supercritical Antisolvent (SAS) process with $CO_2$. With dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) as the solvent, effects of the operating variables such as temperature (308.15~323.15 K), pressure(90~130 bar), solute concentration(10~20 mg/ml), and the molecular weight of the solute(Mw=37,500, 450,000) on the size and morphology of the resulting particles were thoroughly observed. The higher solute concentration led to the larger particles, however, the injection velocity of the solution and pressure did not show significant effects on the resulting particle size. With dextran of the lower molecular weight, the smallest particles were obtained at 313.15 K. On the other hand, the size of the particles from the high molecular weight dextran ranged between $0.1{\sim}0.5{\mu}m$ with an incremental effect of the temperature and pressure. For the solute concentration of 5 mg/ml, the lower molecular weight dextran did not form discrete particles while aggregation of the particles appeared when the solute concentration exceeded 15 mg/ml for the higher molecular weight dextran. It is believed that if the solute concentration is too low, the degree of the supersaturation in the recrystallization chamber would not be sufficient for initiation of the nucleation and growth mechanism. Instead, the spinodal decomposition mechanism leads to formation of the island-like phase separation which appears similar to aggregation of the discrete particles. This effect would be more pronounced for the smaller molecular weight polymer system due to the narrower phase-splitting region.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.976-982
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• 2009

Little is known about the cardiovascular roles of alliin, a functional component in garlic that has been used as food material. Thus, we examined a broad range of cardiovascular activities of alliin in this study. From our in vitro experiments, alliin was determined to act as a stimulant to induce endothelial cell proliferation and endothelial cell migration. Since endothelial cell proliferation and migration are highly associated with angiogenesis and wound healing, alliin is suggested as a regulator to control angiogenesis and wound healing. In addition, alliin was elucidated to prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced adhesion of THP-1 leukocytes to endothelial cells and LPS-induced homotypic THP-1 cell aggregation. These inhibitory effects indicate that alliin is likely to act as an anti-atherosclerotic and anti-thrombotic factor, because leukocytic adhesion to endothelial cells and homotypic leukocyte aggregation are highly associated with atherosclerosis and thrombosis, respectively. Our additional findings show that alliin has no effect on the production of nitric oxide (NO), an important vasoregulator. In conclusion, alliin is suggested as a regulator for controlling various cardiovascular functions.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.325-331
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• 2022

Hydrogen embrittlement in metals has been a serious issue with regard to structural safety. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the aggregation of hydrogen atoms at the crack tips suppresses the dislocation emission and thus results in cleavage fracture. A series of molecular dynamics simulations were performed considering factors such as the concentration of hydrogen atoms, loading rate, and diffusion coefficient. We investigated the conditions that minimize hydrogen embrittlement. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental results and used to quantify hydrogen embrittlement.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.816-820
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• 2011

There is a broad range of different small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) that have diverse structural and functional characteristics. To better understand the functional role of mitochondrial sHSP, NtHSP24.6 was expressed in Escherichia coli with a hexahistidine tag and purified. The protein was analyzed by non-denaturing PAGE, chemical cross-linking and size exclusion chromatography and the $H_6NtHSP24.6$ protein was found to form a dimer in solution. The in vitro functional analysis of $H_6NtHSP24.6$ using firefly luciferase and citrate synthase demonstrated that this protein displays typical molecular chaperone activity. When cell lysates of E. coli were heated after the addition of $H_6NtHSP24.6$, a broad range of proteins from 10 to 160 kD in size remained in the soluble state. These results suggest that NtHSP24.6 forms a dimer and can function as a molecular chaperone to protect a diverse range of proteins from thermal aggregation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.328-333
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• 2005

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are widely distributed, and their function and diversity of structure have been much studied in the field of molecular chaperones. In plants, which frequently have to cope with hostile environments, sHSPs are much more abundant and diverse than in other forms of life. In response to high temperature stress, sHSPs of more than twenty kinds can make up more than 1% of soluble plant proteins. We isolated a genomic clone, NtHSP18.3, from Nicotiana tabacum that encodes the complete open reading frame of a cytosolic class I small heat shock protein. To investigate the function of NtHSP18.3 in vitro, it was overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified NtHSP18.3 had typical molecular chaperone activity as it protected citrate synthase and luciferase from high temperature-induced aggregation. When E. coli celluar proteins were incubated with NtHSP18.3, a large proportion of the proteins remained soluble at temperatures as high as $70^{\circ}C$. Native gel analysis suggested that NtHSP18.3 is a dodecameric oligomer as the form present and showing molecular chaperone activity at the condition tested. Binding of bis-ANS to the oligomers of NtHSP18.3 indicated that exposure of their hydrophobic surfaces increased as the temperature was raised. Taken together, our data suggested that NtHSP18.3 is a molecular chaperone that functions as a dodecameric complex and possibly in a temperature-induced manner.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.480-494
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• 2019

Aggregates of disease-causing proteins dysregulate cellular functions, thereby causing neuronal cell loss in diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Although many in vitro or in vivo studies of protein aggregate inhibitors have been performed, a therapeutic strategy to control aggregate toxicity has not been earnestly pursued, partly due to the limitations of available aggregate models. In this study, we established a tetracycline (Tet)-inducible nuclear aggregate (${\beta}23$) expression model to screen potential lead compounds inhibiting ${\beta}23$-induced toxicity. High-throughput screening identified several natural compounds as nuclear ${\beta}23$ inhibitors, including peucedanocoumarin III (PCIII). Interestingly, PCIII accelerates disaggregation and proteasomal clearance of both nuclear and cytosolic ${\beta}23$ aggregates and protects SH-SY5Y cells from toxicity induced by ${\beta}23$ expression. Of translational relevance, PCIII disassembled fibrils and enhanced clearance of cytosolic and nuclear protein aggregates in cellular models of huntingtin and ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation. Moreover, cellular toxicity was diminished with PCIII treatment for polyglutamine (PolyQ)-huntingtin expression and ${\alpha}$-synuclein expression in conjunction with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment. Importantly, PCIII not only inhibited ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation but also disaggregated preformed ${\alpha}$-synuclein fibrils in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that a Tet-Off ${\beta}23$ cell model could serve as a robust platform for screening effective lead compounds inhibiting nuclear or cytosolic protein aggregates. Brain-permeable PCIII or its derivatives could be beneficial for eliminating established protein aggregates.

• 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.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.185-190
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• 1989

The release of angiotensin and ${\alpha}-amylase$ from monolithic devices of different molecular weight of polyethylene glycol (PEC) grafted polyurethane copolymer was investigated. Water-soluble PEG grafted polymer provided a controlled release of angiotensin and ${\alpha}-amylase$. The release rate of angiotensin and ${\alpha}-amylase$ could be controlled by varying the molecular weight of PEC grafted. The release mechanism may be associated with the creation of pore or domain through the devices following the gel swelling and self-aggregation by PEC grafted polymer. Hydrophobic polyurethane grafted with PEG can provide a biomaterial for prolonged release of angiotensin and ${\alpha}-amylase$ from angiotensin and ${\alpha}-amylase$ blended system.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.235-235
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• 2006

Triphenylamine derivatives play important roles as hole transporting materials in organic light emitting devices. However, low molecular weight triphenylamine derivatives show low glass transition temperature and aggregation behavior, and the vapor deposition step of low molecular weight materials is incompatible with large area display fabrication. Conventional polymer PEDOT-PSS HTL has serious drawbacks such as the ITO anode corrosion, poor surface energy match with aromatic EMLs. To solve these problems, we introduced crosslinkable units to triphenylamine-based polymers to make insoluble HTL by thermal curing following spin-coating. Electrochemical and optical properties of the new hole transporting materials were investigated. In addition, the device characteristics obtained with new hole transporting polymers were investigated in details.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.2607-2612
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• 2010

Human tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is a valuable thrombolytic agent used to successfully treat acute myocardial infarction, thromboembolic stroke, peripheral arterial occlusion, and venous thromboembolism. Recombinant tPA is accumulated as an inactive form in inclusion bodies of E. coli and is refolded in vitro, which is accompanied by extensive aggregation. In the present study, a tPA protease domain was expressed in an active soluble form in the cytosol of E. coli Rosetta-gami cells, which allowed disulfide bond formation and supplied the tRNA molecules required for six rarely used codons in E. coli. This strategy increased the amount of soluble protease domain protein and avoided the cumbersome refolding process. The purified protease domain not only degraded tPA substrate peptides but also formed a covalently bound complex with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, as does full-length tPA. Soluble expression and purification of tPA domains may aid in functional analyses of this multi-domain protein, which has been implicated in many physiological and pathological processes.