• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.31-35
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• 1998

1. INTRODUCTION : Recognition and binding of organic substrates by biological molecules are of vital importance in biophysics and biophysical chemistry. Most studies of the application focused on the development of biosensors, which detected reaction products generated by the binding between enzymes and substrates. Other types of biosensors in which membrane proteins (e.g., nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, auxin receptor ATPase, maltose bining protein, and glutmate receptor) were utilized as a receptor function were also developed. In the previous study[1], the shifts in membrane potential, caused by the injection of substrates into a permeation cell, were measured using immobilized glucose oxidase membranes. It was suggested that the reaction product was not the origin of the potential shifts, but the changes in the charge density in the membrane due to the binding between the enzyme and the substrates generated the potential shifts. In this study, $\gamma$-globulin was immobilized (entrapped) in a poly($\gamma$-amino acid) network, and the shifts in the membrane potential caused by the injection of some amino acids were investigated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.645-658
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• 2021

Porins are essential for the viability of Gram-negative bacteria. They ensure the uptake of nutrients, can be involved in the maintenance of outer membrane integrity and define the antibiotic or drug resistance of organisms. The function and structure of porins in proteobacteria is well described, while their function in photoautotrophic cyanobacteria has not been systematically explored. We compared the domain architecture of nine putative porins in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and analyzed the seven candidates with predicted OprB-domain. Single recombinant mutants of the seven genes were created and their growth capacity under different conditions was analyzed. Most of the putative porins seem to be involved in the transport of salt and copper, as respective mutants were resistant to elevated concentrations of these substances. In turn, only the mutant of alr2231 was less sensitive to elevated zinc concentrations, while mutants of alr0834, alr4741 and all4499 were resistant to high manganese concentrations. Notably the mutant of alr4550 shows a high sensitivity against harmful compounds, which is indicative for a function related to the maintenance of outer membrane integrity. Moreover, the mutant of all5191 exhibited a phenotype which suggests either a higher nitrate demand or an inefficient nitrogen fixation. The dependency of porin membrane insertion on Omp85 proteins was tested exemplarily for Alr4550, and an enhanced aggregation of Alr4550 was observed in two omp85 mutants. The comparative analysis of porin mutants suggests that the proteins in parts perform distinct functions related to envelope integrity and solute uptake.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 2017

A tube-type ceramic membrane for microfiltration was developed, and the membrane module comprised of three membranes was also applied to biological carbon and nitrogen removal processes for post-treatment. Manufacturing the microfiltration membrane was successful with the structure and boundary of the coated and support layers within the membrane module clearly observable. Total kjeldahl nitrogen removal from effluent was additionally achieved through the elimination of solids containing organic nitrogen by use of the ceramic membrane module. Removal of suspended solids and colloidal substances were noticeably improved after membrane filtration, and the filtration function of the ceramic membrane could also easily be recovered by physical cleaning. By using the ceramic membrane module, the system showed average removals of organics, nitrogen, and solids up to 98%, 80% and 99.9%, respectively. Thus, this microfiltration system appears to be an alternative and flexible option for existing biological nutrient removal processes suffering from poor settling performance due to the use of a clarifier.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.759-769
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• 2002

Mutated forms of ras are found in many human tumors and the rate of incidence is significantly higher in colon and pancreatic cancers. The protein product from the ras oncogene is a small G-protein, $p21^{ras}{\;}(Ras)$ that is known to playa key role in the signal transduction cascade and cell differentiation and proliferation. Mutated Ras is unable to regulate itself and remains constantly activated, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. The function of Ras in signal transduction requires its location near the growth factor receptor at the cell membrane. However, Ras does not have a transmembrane domain. Ras requires farnesylation to increase its hydrophobicity and subsequent plasma membrane association for its transforming activity. This key post-translational modification is catalyzed by the enzyme Ras farnesyltransferase (FTase), which transfers a farnesyl group from farnesylpyrophosphate to the C-terminal cysteine of the Ras protein. The requirement has focused attention on FTase as a target for therapeutic intervention. Selective inhibition of FTase will prevent Ras protein from association with the plasma membrane, leading to a disruption of oncogenic Ras function.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.155-158
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• 2011

Mechanical ventilation is usually the treatment of choice for severe respiratory failure associated with trauma. However, in case of severe hypoxia, mechanical ventilation may not be sufficient for gas exchange in lungs. Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) undergo difficulties in oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is the ideal therapeutic option for those patients with severe traumatic injuries. ECMO allows lungs to reserve their functions and decreases further lung injuries while increasing survival rate at the same time. We report two cases of patients with traumatic ARDS and Multiple Organ Failure including compromised heart function. The preservation of lung function was successful using ECMO therapy.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.129-132
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• 2003

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic effects of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum) are well established. Owing to the wide spread use of the seeds by healthy individuals and by diabetic patients we wanted to test whether the seeds can affect biological systems such as membrane transport function. In the present study fenugreek seed polyphenols were extracted and their effect on erythrocyte membrane-bound sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase $(Na^+/K^+-ATPase)$ activity was studied in vitro. Fenugreek seed polyphenols inhibited $Na^+/K^+-ATPase$ in erythrocyte membrane of diabetic and normal subjects. Maximum inhibition was observed at $100\;{\mu}l$ of extract containing 0.75 mM gallic acid equivalents. The uncoupling of membrane ATPases in vitro suggest that polyphenols from fenugreek seeds may possess a positive inotropic effect.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.83-86
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• 1999

The imidization effect of a poly (amic acid) dope solution on membrane formation has been investigated. Poly (amic acid) solution in S-methyl-2-pyrrolidione hs been thermally imidized at $120^{\circ}C$ with different curing time and its degree of imidization was determined by infrared spectroscopy. The solution properties have been studied as a function of concentration and curing time by dynamic light scattering. The quality of a solvent was changed from good to poor with increasing imidization of poly(amic acid).The reduced polymer-solvent interaction diminishes the membrane formation time. The morphology of a membrane was able to be controlled by the characteristics of dope solution.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.185-191
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• 2003

A numerical study on the hydrodynamic properties of a floating flexible breakwater consisting of triple vertical porous membrane structures attached to a floating rigid pontoon restrained by moorings is carried out in the context of two-dimensional linear wave-flexible body interaction theory. The tensions in the triple membranes are achieved by hanging a clump weight from its lower ends. The clump weight is also restrained properly by moorings. The dynamic behavior of the breakwater was described through an appropriate Green function, and the fluid multi-domains are incorporated into the boundary integral equation. Numerical results are presented which illustrate the effects of the various wave and structural parameters on the efficiency of the breakwater as a barrier to wave action. It is found that the wave reflection and transmission properties of the structures depends strongly on the membrane length taking major fraction of water column, the magnitude of tensions on membrane achieving by the clump weight, proper mooring types and stiffness, the permeability on the membrane dissipating wave energy.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2014

We report a polysilicon active area membrane field effect transistor (PSAFET) pressure sensor for low stress deflection of membrane. The PSAFET was produced in conventional FET semiconductor fabrication and backside wet etching. The PSAFET located at the front side measured pressure change using 300 nm thin-nitride membrane when a membrane was slightly strained by the small deflection of membrane shape from backside with any physical force. The PSAFET showed high sensitivity around threshold voltage, because threshold voltage variation was composed of fractional function form in sensitivity equation of current variation. When gate voltage was biased close to threshold voltage, a fractional function form had infinite value at $V_{tn}$, which increased the current variation of sensitivity. Threshold voltage effect was dominant right after the PSAFET was turned on. Narrow transistor channel established by small current flow was choked because electron could barely cross drain-source electrodes. When gate voltage was far from threshold voltage, threshold voltage effect converged to zero in fractional form of threshold voltage variations and drain current change was mostly determined by mobility changes. As the PSAFET fabrication was compatible with a polysilicon FET in CMOS fabrication, it could be adapted in low pressure sensor and bio molecular sensor.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.5-10
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• 1996

Active transport is one of the essential function of biological membrane transport systems, in which substrates are transported from lower to higher concentration side against their concentration gradient. In this article, we describe photo- and pH-induced active transport models by designing the functional carriers based on the affinity-switching strategy.