Antifungal Activity of a Synthetic Cationic Peptide against the Plant Pathogens Colletotrichum graminicola and Three Fusarium Species

Eric T. Johnson,Kervin O. Evans,Patrick F. Dowd 한국식물병리학회 2015 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.31 No.3

A small cationic peptide (JH8944) was tested for activity against a number of pathogens of agricultural crops. JH8944 inhibited conidium growth in most of the tested plant pathogens with a dose of 50 μg/ml, although one isolate of Fusarium oxysporum was inhibited at 5 μg/ ml of JH8944. Most conidia of Fusarium graminearum were killed within 6 hours of treatment with 50 μg/ ml of JH8944. Germinating F. graminearum conidia required 238 μg/ml of JH8944 for 90% growth inhibition. The peptide did not cause any damage to tissues surrounding maize leaf punctures when tested at a higher concentration of 250 μg/ml even after 3 days. Liposomes consisting of phosphatidylglycerol were susceptible to leakage after treatment with 25 and 50 μg/ ml of JH8944. These experiments suggest this peptide destroys fungal membrane integrity and could be utilized for control of crop fungal pathogens.

Antifungal Activity of a Synthetic Cationic Peptide against the Plant Pathogens Colletotrichum graminicola and Three Fusarium Species

Johnson, Eric T.,Evans, Kervin O.,Dowd, Patrick F. The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2015 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.31 No.3

A small cationic peptide (JH8944) was tested for activity against a number of pathogens of agricultural crops. JH8944 inhibited conidium growth in most of the tested plant pathogens with a dose of $50{\mu}g/ml$, although one isolate of Fusarium oxysporum was inhibited at $5{\mu}g/ml$ of JH8944. Most conidia of Fusarium graminearum were killed within 6 hours of treatment with $50{\mu}g/ml$ of JH8944. Germinating F. graminearum conidia required $238{\mu}g/ml$ of JH8944 for 90% growth inhibition. The peptide did not cause any damage to tissues surrounding maize leaf punctures when tested at a higher concentration of $250{\mu}g/ml$ even after 3 days. Liposomes consisting of phosphatidylglycerol were susceptible to leakage after treatment with 25 and $50{\mu}g/ml$ of JH8944. These experiments suggest this peptide destroys fungal membrane integrity and could be utilized for control of crop fungal pathogens.

AUA as a Translation Initiation Site In Vitro for the Human Transcription Factor Sp3

(Eric Moore Hernandez),(Anna Johnson),(Vicente Notario),(Andrew Chen),(John R. Richert) 생화학분자생물학회 2002 BMB Reports Vol.35 No.3

Sp3 is a bifunctional transcription factor that has been reported to stimulate or repress the transcription of numerous genes. Although the size of Sp3 mRNA is 4.0 kb, the size of the known Sp3 cDNA sequence is 3.6 kb. Thus, Sp3 functional studies have been performed with an artificially introduced start codon, and thus an aminoterminus that differs from the wild-type. Ideally, fulllength cDNA expression vectors with the appropriate start codon should be utilized for these studies. Using 5’rapid amplification of cDNA ends, a full-length Sp3 cDNA clone was generated and the sequence verified in nine cell lines. No AUG initiation codon was present. However, stop codons were present in all three frames 5’ to the known coding sequence. In vitro translation of this full-length cDNA clone produced the expected three isoforms-one at 100 kDa and two in the mid 60 kDa range. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the protein products had the ability to bind to the Sp1/3 consensus sequence. In vitro studies, using our Sp3 clone and site directed mutagenesis, identified the translation initiation site for the larger isoform as AUA. AUA has not been previously described as an endogenous initiation codon in eukaryotes.

AUA as a Translation Initiation Site In Vitro for the Human Transcription Factor Sp3

Hernandez, Eric Moore,Johnson, Anna,Notario, Vicente,Chen, Andrew,Richert, John R. 생화학분자생물학회 2002 Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology Vol.35 No.3

Sp3 is a bifunctional transcription factor that has been reported to stimulate or repress the transcription of numerous genes. Although the size of Sp3 mRNA is 4.0kb, the size of the known Sp3 cDNA sequence is 3.6kb. Thus, Sp3 functional studies have been performed with an artificially introduced start codon, and thus an amino-terminus that differs from the wild-type. Ideally, full-length cDNA expression vectors with the appropriate start codon should be utilized for these studies. Using 5'rapid amplification of cDNA ends, a full-length Sp3 cDNA clone was generated and the sequence verified in nine cell lines. No AUG initiation codon was present. However, stop codons were present in all three frames 5' to the known coding sequence. In vitro translation of this full-length cDNA clone produced the expected three isoforms-one at 100 kDa and two in the mid 60 kDa range. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the protein products had the ability to bind to the Sp1/3 consensus sequence. In vitro studies, using our Sp3 clone and site directed mutagenesis, identified the translation initiation site for the larger isoform as AUA. AUA has not been previously described as an endogenous initiation codon in eukaryotes.

Effect of Oxygen Radicals and Aeration on Carotenogenesis and Growth of Phaffia rhodozyma ( Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous )

( Gil Hwan An,Keng Wei Chang,Eric A . Johnson ) 한국미생물생명공학회 1996 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.6 No.2

Dynamic Analysis and Structural Optimization of a Fiber Optic Sensor Using Neural Networks

Kim Yong-Yook,Kapania Rakesh K.,Johnson Eric R.,Palmer Matthew E.,Kwon Tae-Kyu,Hong Chul-Un,Kim Nam-Gyun The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers 2006 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.20 No.2

The objective of this work is to apply artificial neural networks for solving inverse problems in the structural optimization of a fiber optic pressure sensor. For the sensor under investigation to achieve a desired accuracy, the change in the distance between the tips of the two fibers due to the applied pressure should not interfere with the phase change due to the change in the density of the air between the two fibers. Therefore, accurate dynamic analysis and structural optimization of the sensor is essential to ensure the accuracy of the measurements provided by the sensor. To this end, a normal mode analysis and a transient response analysis of the sensor were performed by combining commercial finite element analysis package, MSC/NASTRAN, and MATLAB. Furthermore, a parametric study on the design of the sensor was performed to minimize the size of the sensor while fulfilling a number of constraints. In performing the parametric study, the need for a relationship between the design parameters and the response of the sensor was fulfilled by using a neural network. The whole process of the dynamic analysis using commercial finite element analysis package and the parameter optimization of the sensor were automated within the MATLAB environment.

Dynamic Analysis and Structural Optimization of a Fiber Optic Sensor Using Neural Networks

Yong-Yook Kim,Rakesh K. Kapania,Eric R. Johnson,Matthew E. Palmer,Tae-Kyu Kwon,Chul-Un Hong,Nam-Gyun Kim 대한기계학회 2006 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.20 No.2

The objective of this work is to apply artificial neural networks for solving inverse problems in the structural optimization of a fiber optic pressure sensor. For the sensor under investigation to achieve a desired accuracy, the change in the distance between the tips of the two fibers due to the applied pressure should not interfere with the phase change due to the change in the density of the air between fibers. Therefore, accurate dynamic analysis and structural optimization of the sensor is essential to ensure the accuracy of the measurements provided by the sensor. To this end, a normal mode analysis and a transient response analysis of the sensor were performed by combining commercial finite element analysis package, MSC/NASTRAN, and MATLAB. Furthermore, a parametric study on the design of the sensor was performed to minimize the size of the sensor while fulfilling a number of constraints. In performing the parametric study, the need for a relationship between the design parameters and the response of the sensor was fulfilled by using a neural network. The whole process of the dynamic analysis using commercial finite element analysis package and the parameter optimization of the sensor were automated within the MATLAB environment.

Home exercise program adherence strategies in vestibular rehabilitation: a systematic review

( Shilpa Bgaikwad ),( Tatri Mukherjee ),( Parita V Shah ),( Oluwaseun I Ambode ),( Eric G Johnson ),( Noha S Daher ) 물리치료재활과학회 2016 Physical therapy rehabilitation science Vol.5 No.2

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate for effective strategies to improve home exercise program (HEP) adherence in vestibular rehabilitation (VR). Design: Systematic review. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify effective strategies used to improve HEP adherence of patients in VR. Six databases, Academic Search Premier, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PUBMED, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched from their inception to December 31, 2015. The keywords used for search were `home program`, `home intervention`, `compliance`, `adherence`, `vestibular rehabilitation`, `motion sickness`, and `motion sensitivity`. Results: A total of eight studies were selected to be included in the review. There was 95.2% agreement between the two reviewers who reviewed the studies using a quality assessment tool. The overall inter-rater agreement (κ=0.73) showed good agreement between the reviewers. Strong evidence was identified for 3 major categories of effective HEP adherence strategies, 1) providing patient with written summary of HEP; 2) asking patient to maintain a record of HEP and symptoms; and 3) providing tele-rehabilitation in form of email and/or telephone support along with in person treatment sessions. Also, based on strong evidence, computerized technology was not found to be superior to other strategies for improving patients` HEP adherence in VR. Conclusions: The effective strategies for improving HEP in VR include written summary of exercise, maintenance of log of HEP and symptoms and tele-rehabilitation along with in person treatment sessions.

Heme–thiolate sulfenylation of human cytochrome P450 4A11 functions as a redox switch for catalytic inhibition

Albertolle, Matthew E.,Kim, Donghak,Nagy, Leslie D.,Yun, Chul-Ho,Pozzi, Ambra,Savas, Uzen,Johnson, Eric F.,Guengerich, F. Peter American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bi 2017 The Journal of biological chemistry Vol.292 No.27

<P>Cytochrome P450 (P450, CYP) 4A11 is a human fatty acid omega-hydroxylase that catalyzes the oxidation of arachidonic acid to the eicosanoid 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), which plays important roles in regulating blood pressure regulation. Variants of P450 4A11 have been associated with high blood pressure and resistance to anti-hypertensive drugs, and 20-HETE has both pro-and antihypertensive properties relating to increased vasoconstriction and natriuresis, respectively. These physiological activities are likely influenced by the redox environment, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we found that reducing agents (e. g. dithiothreitol and tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine) strongly enhanced the catalytic activity of P450 4A11, but not of 10 other human P450s tested. Conversely, added H2O2 attenuated P450 4A11 catalytic activity. Catalytic roles of five of the potentially eight implicated Cys residues of P450 4A11 were eliminated by site-directed mutagenesis. Using an isotope-coded dimedone/iododimedone-labeling strategy and mass spectrometry of peptides, we demonstrated that the heme-thiolate cysteine (Cys-457) is selectively sulfenylated in an H2O2 concentration-dependent manner. This sulfenylation could be reversed by reducing agents, including dithiothreitol and dithionite. Of note, we observed heme ligand cysteine sulfenylation of P450 4A11 ex vivo in kidneys and livers derived from CYP4A11 transgenic mice. We also detected sulfenylation of murine P450 4a12 and 4b1 heme peptides in kidneys. To our knowledge, reversible oxidation of the heme thiolate has not previously been observed in P450s and may have relevance for 20-HETE-mediated functions.</P>

Correlating Atomic Structure and Transport in Suspended Graphene Nanoribbons

Qi, Zhengqing John,Rodrí,guez-Manzo, Julio A.,Botello-Mé,ndez, André,s R.,Hong, Sung Ju,Stach, Eric A.,Park, Yung Woo,Charlier, Jean-Christophe,Drndić,, Marija,Johnson, A. T. Ch American Chemical Society 2014 NANO LETTERS Vol.14 No.8

<P/><P>Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are promising candidates for next generation integrated circuit (IC) components; this fact motivates exploration of the relationship between crystallographic structure and transport of graphene patterned at IC-relevant length scales (<10 nm). We report on the controlled fabrication of pristine, freestanding GNRs with widths as small as 0.7 nm, paired with simultaneous lattice-resolution imaging and electrical transport characterization, all conducted within an aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope. Few-layer GNRs very frequently formed bonded-bilayers and were remarkably robust, sustaining currents in excess of 1.5 μA per carbon bond across a 5 atom-wide ribbon. We found that the intrinsic conductance of a sub-10 nm bonded bilayer GNR scaled with width as <I>G</I><SUB>BL</SUB>(<I>w</I>) ≈ 3/4(<I>e</I><SUP>2</SUP><I>/h</I>)<I>w</I>, where <I>w</I> is the width in nanometers, while a monolayer GNR was roughly five times less conductive. Nanosculpted, crystalline monolayer GNRs exhibited armchair-terminated edges after current annealing, presenting a pathway for the controlled fabrication of semiconducting GNRs with known edge geometry. Finally, we report on simulations of quantum transport in GNRs that are in qualitative agreement with the observations.</P>