• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1086-1095
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• 2015

The psychrophilic organism Colwellia psychrerythraea strain 34H produces extracellular polysaccharide substances to tolerate cold environments. Sedoheptulose 7-phosphate isomerase (GmhA) is essential for producing $\small{D}$-glycero-$\small{D}$-mannoheptose 7-phosphate, a key mediator in the lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway. We determined the crystal structure of GmhA from C. psychrerythraea strain 34H (CpsGmhA, UniProtKB code: Q47VU0) at a resolution of $2.8{\AA}$. The tetrameric structure is similar to that of homologous GmhA structures. Interestingly, one of the catalytic residues, glutamate, which has been reported to be critical for the activity of other homologous GmhA enzymes, is replaced by a glutamine residue in the CpsGmhA protein. We also found differences in the conformations of several other catalytic residues. Extensive structural and sequence analyses reveal that CpsGmhA shows high similarity to Escherichia coli DnaA initiatorassociating protein A (DiaA). Therefore, the CpsGmhA structure reported here may provide insight into the structural and functional correlations between GmhA and DiaA among specific microorganisms.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.180-186
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• 2015

Escherichia coli AcrAB-TolC is a multidrug efflux pump that expels a wide range of toxic substrates. The dynamic nature of the binding or low affinity between the components has impeded elucidation of how the three components assemble in the functional state. Here, we created fusion proteins composed of AcrB, a transmembrane linker, and two copies of AcrA. The fusion protein exhibited acridine pumping activity, suggesting that the protein reflects the functional structure in vivo. To discern the assembling mode with TolC, the AcrBA fusion protein was incubated with TolC or a chimeric protein containing the TolC aperture tip region. Three-dimensional structures of the complex proteins were determined through transmission electron microscopy. The overall structure exemplifies the adaptor bridging model, wherein the funnel-like AcrA hexamer forms an intermeshing cogwheel interaction with the ${\alpha}$-barrel tip region of TolC, and a direct interaction between AcrB and TolC is not allowed. These observations provide a structural blueprint for understanding multidrug resistance in pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.469-476
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• 2017

Membrane separation is a technology of low energy consumption. Membranes made of zeolites are of great interest because their fixed and open pores in the size of small molecules inside crystalline structures allow separation processes under harsh conditions. While zeolite NaA (LTA-type) is industrially used for dewatering of organic solvents, its pore size and thermal and hydrothermal stability can be tuned by exchange of framework and extra-framework elements. SOD with pores of only 0.28 nm is of great interest for $H_2$- und $H_2O$-separation and also can be tuned by ion exchange. Zeolites open the opportunity to create membranes of adapted separation behavior for small molecules in conditions of surrounding technical processes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.611-620
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• 2018

In this study, a metal-organic framework (MOF) material $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe) was synthesized using the solvothermal method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectrophotometry, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and surface area measurements. The XRD pattern of the synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe) was similar to the previously reported patterns of MIL-101 type materials, which indicated the successful synthesis of $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe). The FT-IR spectrum showed the molecular structure and functional groups of the synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe). The UV-visible absorbance spectrum indicated that the synthesized material could be activated as a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. FE-SEM and TEM images showed the formation of hexagonal microspindle structures in the synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe). Furthermore, the EDS spectrum indicated that the synthesized material consisted of Fe, N, O, and C elements. The synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe) was then employed as an adsorbent and photocatalyst for the removal of Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B from aqueous solutions. The initial 30 min of adsorption for Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B without light irradiation achieved removal efficiencies of 83.6% and 70.7%, respectively. The removal efficiencies thereafter gradually increased with visible light irradiation for 180 min, and the overall removal efficiencies for Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B were 94.2% and 83.5%, respectively. These results indicate that the synthesized MOF material can be effectively applied as an adsorbent and photocatalyst for the removal of dyes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.835-843
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• 2008

We have fabricated the source-drain electrodes for OTFTs by screen printing method and manufactured Ag pastes as conductive paste. To obtain excellent conductivity and screen-printability of Ag pastes, the dispersion characteristics of Ag pastes prepared from two types of acryl resins with different molecular structures and Ag powder treated with caprylic acid, triethanol amine and dodecane thiol as surfactant respectively were investigated. The Ag pastes containing Ag powder treated with dodecane thiol having thiol as anchor group or AA4123 with carboxyl group(COOH) of hydrophilic group as binder resin exhibited excellent dispersity. But, Ag pastes(CA-41, TA-41, DT-41) prepared from AA4123 fabricated the insulating layer since the strong interaction between surface of Ag powder and carboxyl group(COOH) of AA4123 interfered with the formation of conduction path among Ag powders. The viscosity behavior of Ag pastes exhibited shear-thinning flow in the high shear rate range and the pastes with bad dispersion characteristic demonstrated higher shear-thinning index than those with good dispersity due to the weak flocculated network structure. The output curve of OTFT device with a channel length of 107 ${\mu}m$ using screen-printed S-D electrodes from DT-30 showed good saturation behavior and no significant contact resistance. And this device exhibited a saturation mobility of $4.0{\times}10^{-3}$ $cm^2/Vs$, on/off current ratio of about $10^5$ and a threshold voltage of about 0.7 V.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.540-549
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• 2002

The arrangement of encapsulated Ar atoms in the molecular-dimensioned cavities of fully dehydrated zeolite A of unit-cell composition $Cs_3Na_8HSi_{12}Al_{12}O_{48}$ ($Cs_3$-A) has been studied crystallographically to probe the confinement effect of guest species in microporous environment. Atoms of Ar were encapsulated in the cavities of $Cs_3$-A by treatment with 410 atm of Ar at $400^{\circ}C$ for two days, followed by cooling at room temperature. The crystal structure of $Cs_3Na_8H$-A(4Ar) ($P_e$ = 410 atm, $a=12.245(2){\AA}$, $R_1=0.0543$, and $R_2=0.0552$) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique in the cubic space group $Pm\bar{3}m$ at 21 (1) $^{\circ}C$ and 1 atm. Encapsulated Ar atoms are distributed in three crystallographic distinct positions: 1.5 Ar atoms per unit cell opposite 6-rings, 1.5 opposite four-rings in the large cavity, and finally 1.0 in the sodalite-unit. The possible structures of argon clusters, such as $Ar_2$, $Ar_3$, and $Ar_4$, are proposed.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.66-77
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• 2006

This review inquired the recently applied molecular biological and biochemical methods analyzing the microbial community structure of groundwater and, as a result, summarized the functional or taxonomic groups of active microorganisms with major contaminants in groundwater. The development of gene amplification through PCR has been possible to figure out microbial population and identification. Active microbial community structures have been analyzed using a variety of fingerprinting techniques such as DGGE, SSCP, RISA, and microarray and fatty acid analyses such as PLFA and FAME, and the activity of a specific strain has been examined using FISH. Also, this review included the dominant microflora in groundwater contaminated with fuel components such as n-alkanes, BTEX, MTBE, and ethanol and chlorinated compounds such as TCE, PCE, PCB, CE, carbon tetrachloride, and chlorobenzene.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.510-516
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• 2008

New antitumor active polymers, poly(methacryloyl-2-oxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid-co-exo-3,6-epoxy-l,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid) [poly(MTCA-co-ETAc)], poly(methacryloyl-2-oxy-l,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid-co-hydrogen ethyl-exo-3,6-epoxy-l,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalate) [poly(MTCA-co-HEET)], and poly(methacryloyl-2-oxy-l,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid-co-a-ethoxy-exo-3,6-epoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthaloyl-5-fluorouracil) [poly(MTCA-co-EETFU)] were synthesized and characterized. Their antitumor activity, inhibition of DNA replication and antiangiogenesis were examined. The structures of the polymers were identified by FT-IR, $^1H$ and $^{13}C$-NMR spectroscopy. The number average molecular weights of the fractionated polymers determined by GPC ranged from 9,400 to 14,900, and polydispersity indices were less than 1.7. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these polymers was determined and their antitumor activity was evaluated. The $IC_{50}$ values (the drug concentration at inhibition of 50% tumor growth) indicated that the synthesized polymers were much better inhibitors of cancer cells and showed lower cytotoxicity than the free 5-FU. The in vivo antitumor activity of the conjugates was examined using mice bearing the sarcoma 180 tumor cell line. The life spans (TIC) of the mice treated with the conjugates were higher than those treated with the free 5-FU. In addition, the synthesized conjugates showed excellent antiangiogenic activity based on an embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2007

Perilla rust is a damaging disease in perilla cultivation in Korea. Its causal agent was identified as Coleosporium plectranthi based on descriptions of morphological characteristics of spores and spore-producing fruiting structures(in uredinial and telial stages from perilla and in aecial stage from the alternate host pine) collected in 15 locations in Korea during the disease survey from 2004 to 2006. These characteristics were yellow or orange uredinium; globose or ellipsoid urediniospore of $20.8{\mu}m{\times}18{\mu}m$ in size; verruca of $0.3mm{\times}1.2mm$; orange telium; one-celled, oblong ellipsoid teliospore of $63.1{\mu}m{\times}19.7{\mu}m$ with one-layered crusts or four-celled(when mature), internal basidium of $64.2{\mu}m{\times}19.7{\mu}m$; ellipsoid to globoid basidiospore of $20.3{\mu}m{\times}12{\mu}m$; type 2 spermogonium; yellow, broadly ellipsoid peridial cell of $35.6{\mu}m{\times}23.1{\mu}m$; and broadly ellipsoidal or subglobose aeciospore of $25.9{\mu}m{\times}18.8{\mu}m$. Phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA sequences revealed the closest relatedness to those of the genus Coleosporium, a monophyletic group distinguished from other rust fungi and divided into two main lineages, one of which was C. plectranthi grouped with high bootstrap value(96%). In pathogenicity test, both aeciospores and urediniospores caused rust development on perilla leaves. This is the first description of C. plectranthi causing perilla rust with the first findings of its telial stage on perilla and the first rust disease on the aecial host in Pinus densiflora. These aspects would provide basic information for the development of control measures of the disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.429-441
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• 2009

We have determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow-spotted long horned beetle, Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endangered insect species in Korea. The 15,856-bp long P. hilaris mitogenome harbors gene content typical of the animal mitogenome and a gene arrangement identical to the most common type found in insect mitogenomes. As with all other sequenced coleopteran species, the 5-bp long TAGTA motif was also detected in the intergenic space sequence located between $tRNA^{Ser}$(UCN) and ND1 of P. hilaris. The 1,190-bp long non-coding A+T-rich region harbors an unusual series of seven identical repeat sequences of 57-bp in length and several stretches of sequences with the potential to form stem-and-loop structures. Furthermore, it contains one $tRNA^{Arg}$-like sequence and one $tRNA^{Lys}$-like sequence. Phylogenetic analysis among available coleopteran mitogenomes using the concatenated amino acid sequences of PCGs appear to support the sister group relationship of the suborder Polyphaga to all remaining suborders, including Adephaga, Myxophaga, and Archostemata. Among the two available infraorders in Polyphaga, a monophyletic Cucujiformia was confirmed, with the placement of Cleroidea as the basal lineage for Cucujiformia. On the other hand, the infraorder Elateriformia was not identified as monophyletic, thereby indicating that Scirtoidea and Buprestoidea are the basal lineages for Cucujiformia and the remaining Elateriformia.