• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.245-268
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• 2008

The outcome of plant-pathogen interactions is influenced significantly by endogenous small molecules that coordinate plant defence responses. There is currently tremendous scientific and commercial interest in identifying chemicals whose exogenous application activates plant defences and affords protection from pathogen infection. In this review, we provide a survey of compounds known to induce disease resistance in plants, with particular emphasis on how each compound was originally identified, its putative or demonstrated mechanism of defence induction, and the known biological target(s) of each chemical. Larger polymeric structures and peptides/proteins are also discussed in this context. The quest for novel defence-inducing molecules would be aided by the capability for high-throughput analysis of candidate compounds, and we describe some issues associated with the development of these types of screens. Subsequent characterization of hits can be a formidable challenge, especially in terms of identifying chemical targets in plant cells. A variety of powerful molecular tools are available for this characterization, not only to provide insight into methods of plant defence activation, but also to probe fundamental biological processes. Furthermore, these investigations can reveal molecules with significant commercial potential as crop protectants, although a number of factors must be considered for this potential to be realized. By highlighting recent progress in the application of chemical biology techniques for the modulation of plant-pathogen interactions, we provide some perspective on the exciting opportunities for future progress in this field of research.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.261-261
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• 2006

Membranes are a central feature of all biological systems and their ability to control many cellular processes is critically important. As a result, a better understanding of how molecules bind to biological membranes is an active area of research. In this report, the interaction between our biomimetic structures and different biological membranes is reported using both model vesicle and in vitro bacterial cell experiments. These results show that lipid composition is more important for selectivity than overall net charge. An effort is made to connect model vesicle studies with in vitro data and naturally occurring lipid compositions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.443-443
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• 2006

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2022

Evasion, approach and predation are examples of innate behaviour that are fundamental for the survival of animals. Uniting these behaviours is the assessment of threat, which is required to select between these options. Far from being comprehensive, we give a broad review over recent studies utilising optic techniques that have identified neural circuits and genetic identities underlying these behaviours.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.439-446
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• 2022

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes are ubiquitous, catalyzing various biochemical reactions of approximately 4% of all classified enzymatic activities. They transform amines and amino acids into important metabolites or signaling molecules and are important drug targets in many diseases. In the crystal structures of PLP-dependent enzymes, organic cofactor PLP showed diverse conformations depending on the catalytic step. The conformational change of PLP is essential in the catalytic mechanism. In the study, we review the sophisticated catalytic mechanism of PLP, especially in transaldimination reactions. Most drugs targeting PLP-dependent enzymes make a covalent bond to PLP with the transaldimination reaction. A detailed understanding of organic cofactor PLP will help develop a new drug against PLP-dependent enzymes.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.18-18
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• 2005

Photoinduced electron transport process in nature such as photoelectric conversion and long-range electron transfer in photosynthetic organisms are known to occur not only very efficiently but also unidirectionally through the functional groups of biomolecules. The basic principles in the development of new functional devices can be inspired from the biological systems such as molecular recognition, electron transfer chain, or photosynthetic reaction center. By mimicking the organization of the biological system, molecular electronic devices can be realized $artificially^{1)}$. The nano-fabrication technology of biomolecules was applied to the development of nano-protein chip for simultaneously analyzing many kinds of proteins as a rapid tool for proteome research. The results showed that the self-assembled protein layer had an influence on the sensitivity of the fabricated bio-surface to the target molecules, which would give us a way to fabricate the nano-protein chip with high sensitivity. The results implicate that the biosurface fabrication using self-assembled protein molecules could be successfully applied to the construction of nanoscale bio-photodiode and nano-protein chip based on electrical detection.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2009

Legume plants develop root nodules to recruit nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. This symbiotic relationship allows the host plants to grow even under nitrogen limiting environment. Since nodule development is an energetically expensive process, the number of nodules should be tightly controlled by the host plants. For this purpose, legume plants utilize a long-distance signaling known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). AON signaling in legumes has been extensively studied over decades but the underlying molecular mechanism had been largely unclear until recently. With the advent of the model legumes, L. japonicus and M. truncatula, we have been seeing a great progress including isolation of the AON-associated receptor kinase. Here, we summarize recent studies on AON and discuss an updated view of the long-distance control of nodulation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

Eukaryotes produce various types of small RNAs of 19-28 nt in length. With rapidly increasing numbers of small RNAs listed in recent years, we have come to realize how widespread their functions are and how diverse the biogenesis pathways have evolved. At the same time, we are beginning to grasp the common features and rules governing the key steps in small RNA pathways. In this review, I will summarize the current classification, biogenesis, action mechanism and function of these fascinating molecules.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.100-101
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• 2003

Cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction is clearly required for metazoans not only to hold their cells together but also to conduct more sophisticated biological processes. Each cell has adhesion molecules on its cell membrane to link extracellular matrix and adjacent cells to the intracellular cytoskeleton, and also to transduce signals. In complex metazoans, information is transmitted from one cell to another by mechanisms such as direct intercellular communication, soluble signal molecules among distant cells, and local cellular environments formed by highly specialized extracellular matrix. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.65.1-65.1
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• 2003

Natural benzo[c]phenanthridine and protoberberine alkaloids which have been attractive to synthetic organic chemists and biochemists over the last 2 decades since such compounds have shown interesting biological properties such as antitumor, antiviral and antimicrobacterial activities. For the systematic research on these alkaloids, several total syntheses of these alkaloids have been reported. However, the bulk of reported benzo[c]phenanthridine synthetic studies to date have involved multistep sequences for assembly of the target molecules as well as lack of generality for synthesizing substituted molecules. (omitted)