Hoshik Won

Analysis of antifouling agents after regulation of tributyltin compounds in Korea

Diverse new antifouling agents are being used as replacements for the organotin compounds that are currently being banned. A comprehensive study on Koreas major seaports was conducted between 2006 and 2009 to assess the concentrations of butyltin compounds and new antifouling agents (chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, Irgarol 1051). The constituents of the pollution due to antifouling agents in major seaports on the Korean peninsula are shifting from butyltin compounds to new antifouling agents. Also, the distribution of traditional butyltin compounds has centered on the east and west coasts, and the new antifouling agents have polluted the south and east coasts. With the results of this study, our lab was able to identify key locations within Korea where focused pollution control of antifouling agents is necessary.

Electrochemical characterization of a single-walled carbon nanotube electrode for detection of glucose

We developed glucose biosensing electrodes using single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films on flexible, transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate). The homogeneous SWCNT films were fabricated by a vacuum filtration method, and the averaged resistivity and transparency of the fabricated flexible SWCNT films were 400 Omega sq(-1) and 80%, respectively. The glucose sensing electrodes were constructed by encapsulating glucose oxidase (GOx) by Nafion binder into the SWCNT film, and the variation in current response as a function of enzyme loading amount, Nafion thickness were investigated. 30 mg mL(-1) GOx and 2% Nafion was optimal for the detection of glucose. When ferrocene monocarboxylic acid (FMCA) was introduced as diffusional electron mediator, the current responses toward glucose of the Nafion/GOx/SWCNT electrodes in glucose solution containing FMCA were dramatically improved, and the developed sensor was independent of oxygen. In the application of GOx immobilized SWCNT films for glucose detection, a linear electrical response was observed for concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 3.0 mM, and the detection limit and the sensitivity were assessed to be 97 microM and 9.32 microA mM(-1) cm(-2), respectively. Moreover, according to the Lineweaver-Burk plot, the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was calculated to be 23.8 mM, and the current responses did not interfere with coexisting electroactive species, indicating that Nafion is an effective permselective polymer barrier.

Identification of Novel Acetylenic Alcohols and a New Dihydrothiopyranone from the Tropical Sponge Reniochalina sp.

Two new acetylenic alcohols (1–2) and a new dihydrothiopyranone (3) were isolated from the tropical sponge Reniochalina sp. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods to be (3R)-hydroxyoctatriacont-(4E)-en-1-yne (1), 5-hydroxyheptatriacont-(3Z)-en-1-yne (2) and 2-hexadecyl-2,3-dihydrothiopyran-4-one (3). The acetylenic alcohol (1) exhibited significant growth inhibitory effect against human tumor cell lines.

Pd catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of the cycloadducts from 3,5-dibromo-2-pyrone and their synthetic applications towards various mono- and polycyclic compounds

Abstract Bicylolactones from Diels–Alder (D–A) cycloadditions of 3,5-dibromo-2-pyrone can undergo various palladium catalyzed cross coupling reactions to afford a series of alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl bicyclolactones. The resulting coupled products can be readily converted into various 3-OH cyclohexenes via lactone ring openings, while those bearing dienyl units underwent highly diastereoselective D–A cycloadditions with selected dienophiles to furnish multiply functionalized polycarbocycles.

Solution State Structure of P1, the Mimetic Peptide Derived from IgM Antigen Apo B-100 by NMR

Apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo-B100) is a major component of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Apo B-100 protein has 4,536 amino acid sequence and these amino acids are classified into peptide groups A to G with subsequent 20 amino acids (P1-P302). The peptide groups were act as immunoglobulin (Ig) antigens which oxidized via malondialdehyde (MDA). The mimetic peptide P1 (EEEMLENVSLVCPKDAT RFK) out of D-group peptides carrying the highest value of IgG antigens were selected for structural studies that may provide antigen specificity. Circular Dichroism (CD) spectra were measured for peptide secondary structure in the range of 190-250 nm. Experimental results show that P1 exhibit partial of β-sheet and random coil structure. Homonuclear (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY) 2DNMR experiments were carried out for NMR signal assignments and structure determination for P1. On the basis of these completely assigned NMR spectra and distance data, distance geometry (DG) and Molecular dynamics (MD) were carried out to determine the structures of P1. The proposed structure was selected by comparisons between experimental NOE spectra and back calculated 2D NOE results from determined structure showing acceptable agreement. The total Root-Mean-Square-Deviation (RMSD) value of P1 obtained upon superposition of all atoms was in the range 0.33Å. The solution state P1 has mixed structure of β-sheet (Glu[1] to Cys[12]) and random coil (Pro[13] to Lys[20]). These NMR results are well consistent with secondary structure from experimental results of circular dichroism. Structural studies based on NMR may contribute to the studies of atherosclerosis and observed conformational characteristics of apo B-100 in LDL using monoclonal antibodies.

NMR Signal Assignments of Human Adenylate Kinase 1 (hAK1) and its R138A Mutant (hAK1R138A)

Adenylate kinase (AK) enzyme which acts as the catalyst of reversible high energy phosphorylation reaction between ATP and AMP which associate with energetic metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis and signal transmission. This enzyme has three distinct domains: Core, AMP binding domain (AMPbd) and Lid domain (LID). The primary role of AMPbd and LID is associated with conformational changes due to flexibility of two domains. Three dimensional structure of human AK1 has not been confirmed and various mutation experiments have been done to determine the active sites. In this study, AK1R138A which is changed arginine[138] of LID domain with alanine[138] was made and conducted with NMR experiments, backbone dynamics analysis and mo-lecular docking dynamic simulation to find the cause of structural change and substrate binding site. Synthetic human muscle type adenylate kinase 1 (hAK1) and its mutant (AK1R138A) were re-combinded with E. coli and expressed in M9 cell. Expressed proteins were purified and finally gained at 0.520 mM hAK1 and 0.252 mM AK1R138A. Multinuclear multidimensional NMR experiments including HNCA, HN(CO)CA, were conducted for amino acid sequence analysis and signal assignments of HSQC spectrum. Our chemical shift perturbation data is shown LID domain residues and around alanine[138] and per-turbation value(0.22ppm) of valine[179] is consid-ered as inter-communication effect with LID domain and the structural change between hAK1 and AK1R138A.

Identification of Derivatives of Cobalt-binding BLM-A2 by NMR

Three different derivatives were obtained in the synthesis of cobalt- binding BLM-A2 and characterized by NMR and Mass spectrometry. It was found that Component 1 is Co(II)(2H2O)(BLM-A2), component 2 is Co(III)(OOH - )(BLM- A2) and component 3 is Co(III)(H 2 O)(OH - )(BLM-A2), respectively. Component 2 and 3 were interestingly dominated when CoBLM-A2 complex was synthesized under basic condition. In this experiment, it was revealed newly that the brown form (component 1) was 6-coordinated structure composed with not 5 ligands but 4 ligands from BLM-A2 and with 2H 2 O as the axial ligands. The component 3 exhibiting a novel ligand configuration is found, and the structure of component 3 was observed to be very similar to that of component 1 in the kind of their ligands but one of the axial ligand is OH - instead of H 2 O. These ligand configurations are different from the green form (component 2) exhibiting 6-coordinate structure composed of 5 ligands from BLM-A2 and one ligand of OOH - , being consistent

NMR Studies of Ni-binding Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone

Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) is composed of 10 amino acids, and is best known as a neurotransmitter. Because of the 80% homology in animals, much more concerns have focused on the substances that have similar functions or can control LHRH. Ni, Cu-LHRH complexes were synthesized. The degree of complexation was monitored by -NMR chemical shifts, and final products were identified by ESI-Mass spectrum. Solution-state structure determination of Ni-LHRH complex was accomplished by using NMR results and NMR-based distance geometry (DG). Interproton distances from nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) were utilized for the molecular structure determination. Results were compared with previous structures obtained from energy minimization and other spectroscopic methods. Structure obtained in this study has a cyclic conformation which is similar to that of energy minimized, and exhibits a specific a-helical turn with residue numbers (2~7) out of 10 amino acids. Comparison of chemical shifts and EPR studies of Ni, Cu-LHRH complexes exhibit that Ni-LHRH complex has same binding sites with the 4-coordination mode as in Zn-LHRH complex