• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.331-341
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• 2018

L-pipecolic acid is a non-protein amino acid commonly found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is a well-known precursor to numerous microbial secondary metabolites and pharmaceuticals, including anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, and several antibiotics. Lysine cyclodeaminase (LCD) catalyzes ${\beta}$-deamination of L-lysine into L-pipecolic acid using ${\beta}$-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as a cofactor. Expression of a human homolog of LCD, ${\mu}$-crystallin, is elevated in prostate cancer patients. To understand the structural features and catalytic mechanisms of LCD, we determined the crystal structures of Streptomyces pristinaespiralis LCD (SpLCD) in (i) a binary complex with $NAD^+$, (ii) a ternary complex with $NAD^+$ and L-pipecolic acid, (iii) a ternary complex with $NAD^+$ and L-proline, and (iv) a ternary complex with $NAD^+$ and L-2,4-diamino butyric acid. The overall structure of SpLCD was similar to that of ornithine cyclodeaminase from Pseudomonas putida. In addition, SpLCD recognized L-lysine, L-ornithine, and L-2,4-diamino butyric acid despite differences in the active site, including differences in hydrogen bonding by Asp236, which corresponds with Asp228 from Pseudomonas putida ornithine cyclodeaminase. The substrate binding pocket of SpLCD allowed substrates smaller than lysine to bind, thus enabling binding to ornithine and L-2,4-diamino butyric acid. Our structural and biochemical data facilitate a detailed understanding of substrate and product recognition, thus providing evidence for a reaction mechanism for SpLCD. The proposed mechanism is unusual in that $NAD^+$ is initially converted into NADH and then reverted back into $NAD^+$ at a late stage of the reaction.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 1990

To detect and quantitation residual antibiotics and antibacterial agents in meats, we performed a biological assay employing the three microorganisms Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, and Bacillus cereus var. mycoides ATCC 11778 for the screening purpose and developed a Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry(GC/MS) analysis for the confirmation and quantiation. In the biological assay (paper disk method), three test solution are used depending on the character of the residual antibiotics and antibacterial agents, follow by a simple clean up procedure which includes homogenization with Mcilvaine buffer, defatting with includes homogenization with Mcilvaine buffer, defatting with hexane, extraction with chloroform, clean-up by Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ and Bakerbond SPE carboxylic acid column. The chloroform layer is used for the analysis of sulfa agents. macrolides antibiotics and antibacterial agents, Adsorbed materials in the Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ were also employed for th analysis of penicillins and tetracyclines. Effluents from the Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ were cleaned-up one more by Bakerbond 10 SPE COOH column and employed for the analysis of aminoglycosides. In the instrumental analysis by using the GC/MSD, residual antibiotics and antibacterial agent were quantitated by selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode after derivatization. A simultaneous analysis of six residual antibiotic and antibacterial agent such as oxytetracycline, penicillin, ampicillin, choliraphenicol and thiamphenicol was developed with simple cleanup procedures revealing good recovery and reproducibility. Also, simultaneous detection of macrolides antibiotics such as erythromycin, spiramycin, and oleandomycin was developed after acid hydrolysis due to their large molecular structures. Because of the high reproducibility and selectivity of these two methods, it is very desirable that the combination of the two methods be used in the bioassay for the screening of residual antibiotics and antibacterial agent and that GC/MSD analysis be used for the confirmation and quantitation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.330-338
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• 2004

Different types of cardiotoxin (I-V and n) were isolated and purified from the venom of the Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra). The effects of these cardiotoxins were studied on membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase, which was isolated from a sheep's brain cortex. The results showed that cardiotoxins I-III, V, and n activated the enzyme by modification of substrate inhibition, but cardiotoxin IV's reaction was different. The inhibition and activation of acetylcholinesterase were linked to the functions of the hydrophobicity index, presence of a cationic cluster, and the accessible arginine residue. Our results indicate that Cardiotoxins have neither a cationic cluster nor an arginine residue in their surface area of loop I; therefore, in contrast to fasciculin, cardiotoxins are attached by loop II to the peripheral site of the enzyme. As a result, fasciculin seems to stabilize nonfunctional conformation, but cardiotoxins seem to stabilize the functional conformation of the enzyme. Based on our experimental and theoretical findings, similar secondary and tertiary structures of cardiotoxins and fasciculin seem to have an opposite function once they interact with acetylcholinesterase.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.342-348
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• 2011

Bacillus subtilis EBS05, an endophytic bacteria strain isolated from a medicinal plant Cinnamomum camphor, can produce antagonistic compounds that effectively inhibit plant pathogenic fungi. The greenhouse experiments showed that wheat sharp eyespot disease (WSED) was reduced by 91.2%, 88.2% and 43.0% after the treatment with fermentation broth, bacteria-free filter and a fungicide fludioxonil, respectively. The culture broth of strain EBS05 can more effectively control WSED than can fludioxonil. The fermentation broth and bacteria-free filter ability to suppress WSED was not significantly different, suggesting that an active secreted substance played a major role in controlling WSED. Separation and purification of the active compounds was carried out by serial processes, including hydrochloric acid (pH 2.0) treatment, methanol extraction and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, silica gel column chromatography and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The purified compounds, one of active peaks in the HPLC spectrum, were obtained from the collection. Analysis of the chemical structures by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) showed that the active substances produced by the endophytic bacteria EBS05 are mixture of the ${\beta}$-hydroxy-C12~C15-$Leu^7$ surfactin A isomers with 1035.65 Da, 1021.64 Da, 1007.63 Da and 993.65 Da molecular weights, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 1994

A mutant strain PRM1 defective in light-activated heterotrophic growth was isolated from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. PRM1 could be grown at growth rate equivalent to Synechocystis 6803 under mixotrophic growth conditions. However, PRM1 could not be grown under light-activated heterotrophic conditions, in which a daily pulse of light for 5 min was given. These results suggest that PRM1 is not defective in heterotrophic metabolism, but in the transduction pathway of light signal essential to the growth. Plasmid patterns, absorption spectra of whole cells, and the exterior and interior structures of PRM1 were similar to those of Synechocystis 6803, except that PRM1 could not produce amorphous slime holding cells together.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.308-313
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• 2005

The effects of molecular environments on photoisomerization of an azobenzene group were investigated using In-situ UV/Vis spectroscopy and optical anisotropy measurement technique. The reversible and repeatable photoisomeritation reactions of azobenzene were observed by irradiating the film containing 4-hydroxyazobenzene and by measuring absorption intensities of the characteristic bands of trans and cis isomers simultaneously. When the self-assembled monolayer with azobenzene groups was used as an alignment layer for a liquid crystal cell, the homeotropic alignment was induced due to their compact packing structures of azobenfene groups along the vertical direction of the substrate. By irradiating UV light on this cell, the trans-azobenzene groups change to cis-isomers through the photoisonlerieation and then resulting in the planar alignment of liquid crystal molecules.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2007

This study is on the synthesis of reactive polymer modifiers by emulsion polymerization to improve properties of asphalt for paving. Styrene, methyl methacrylate (MMA), isoprene and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) which has epoxy ring to react with carboxyl group of asphaltene were used to synthesize polymer modifiers. Modifiers with various composition were tested miscibility with asphalt. Modifiers which showed good miscibility with asphalt were investigated by DSC for $T_g$. Existence of epoxy rings and their reaction with asphaltene wore investigated by FTIR. Molecular structures of synthesized modifiers were confirmed by $^1H-NMR$. The synthesized modifiers which showed good miscibility had their $Tg's$ in the range of $37.5{\sim}56.5^{\circ}C$ and had isoprene contents of 30 wt%. They showed good miscibility in the 1 and 2 wt% concentrations, but not in the 3 wt% concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.36-44
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• 2002

Carbon molecules with closed-cage structures are called fullerenes $(C_{60},\;C_{70})$, whose applications include super-conductors, sensors, catalysts, optical and electronic device, polymer composites, and biological and medical materials. The synthesis of fullerenes has been recently studied with low-pressure benzene/argon/oxygen flames. The formation of fullerene is known as molecular weight growth processes of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon). This study presents results of PAHs and fullerene measurements performed in a low-pressure benzene/argon/oxygen normal co-flow laminar diffusion flame. Through the central tube of the burner, benzene vapors carried by argon are injected. The benzene vapors are made in a temperature-controlled bubbler. The burner is located in a chamber, equipped with a sampling system for direct collection of condensable species from the flame, and exhausted to a vacuum pump. Samples of the condensable are analyzed by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) to determine the yields of PAHs and fullerene. Also, we computed mole fraction of fullerene and PAHs in a nearly sooting low pressure premixed, one-dimensional benzene/argon/oxygen flame (equivalence ratio ${\Phi}=2.4$, pressure=5.33kPa). The object of computation was to investigate the formation mechanism of fullerenes and PAHs. The computations were performed with CHEMKIN/PREMIX. As a result of this study, fullerenes were synthesized in a low pressure (20torr) $C_6H_6/Ar/O_2$ flames and the highest concentration of fullerene was detected just above the visible surface of a flame.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2000

M2PI is an active single chain mini-proinsulin with a 9-residue linker containing the turn-forming sequence 'YPGDV' between the B- and A-chains, but which retains about 50% of native insulin receptor binding activity. The refolding efficiency of M2PI is higher than proinsulin by 20-40% at alkaline pH, and native insulin is generated by the enzymatic conversion of M2PI. The solution structure of M2PI was determined by NMR spectroscopy. The global structure of M2PI is similar to that of native insulin, but the flexible linker between the B- and A-chains perturbed the N-terminal A-chain and C-terminal B-chain. The helix in the N-terminal A-chain is partly perturbed and the ${\beta}$-turn in the B-chain is disrupted in M2PI. However, the linker between the two chains was completely disordered indicating that the designed turn was not formed under the experimental conditions (20% acetic acid). Considering the fact that an insulin analogue, directly cross-linked between the C-terminus of the B-chain and the N-terminus of the A-chain, has negligible binding activity, a flexible linker between the two chains is sufficient to keep binding activity of M2PI, but the perturbed secondary structures are detrimental to receptor binding.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.515-520
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• 1999

Incubation of two types of glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins from bovine brain with the arginine-specific dicarbonyl reagent phenylglyoxal resulted in a biphasic loss of enzyme activity. Reaction of the glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins with phenylglyoxal caused a rapid loss of 53~62% of the enzyme activities and modification of two residues of arginine per enzyme subunit. Prolonged incubation of the glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins with phenylglyoxal resulted in the modification of an additional four residues of arginine per enzyme subunit without further loss of the residual activities. Partial protection against inactivation was provided by the coenzyme NADH or substrate 2-oxoglutarate. The most marked decrease in the rate of inactivation was observed by the combined addition of NADH and 2-oxoglutarate, suggesting that the first two modified arginine residues are in the vicinity of the catalytic site. However, inactivation of the glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins by phenylglyoxal appears to be partial with approximately 40% activity remained after an extended reaction time with excess reagent, suggesting that the modified arginine residues may not be directly involved in catalysis. The lack of complete protection by substrates also suggest the possibility that the modified arginine residues are not directly involved at the active site, and the partial loss of activity by the modification of arginine residues may be due to a conformational change. There were no significant differences between the two glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins in sensitivities to inactivation by phenylglyoxal, indicating that the microenvironmental structures of the glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins are very similar to each other.