Drastically Increase in Atomic Nitrogen Production Depending on the Dielectric Constant of Beads Filled in the Discharge Space.

Nitrogen activation, especially dissociation (production of atomic nitrogen), is a key step for efficient nitrogen fixation, such as nitrogen reduction to produce ammonia. Nitrogen reduction reactions using water as a direct hydrogen source have been studied by many researchers as a green ammonia process. We studied the reaction mechanism and found that the nitrogen reduction could be significantly improved via efficient production of atomic nitrogen through electric discharge.

Reactive Oxygen Species Penetrate Persister Cell Membranes of for Effective Cell Killing.

Persister cells are difficult to eliminate because they are tolerant to antibiotic stress. In the present study, using artificially induced persister cells, we found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) have greater effects on persister cells than on exponential cells. Thus, we examined which types of ROS could effectively eliminate persister cells and determined the mechanisms underlying the effects of these ROS.

Contribution of Discharge Excited Atomic N, N *, and N to a Plasma/Liquid Interfacial Reaction as Suggested by Quantitative Analysis.

Electric-discharge nitrogen comprises three main types of excited nitrogen species-atomic nitrogen (N ), excited nitrogen molecules (N *), and nitrogen ions (N ) - which have different lifetimes and reactivities. In particular, the interfacial reaction locus between the discharged nitrogen and the water phase produces nitrogen compounds such as ammonia and nitrate ions (denoted as N-compounds generically); this is referred to as the plasma/liquid interfacial (P/L) reaction. The N amount was analyzed quantitatively to clarify the contribution of N to the P/L reaction.

Flattened-Top Domical Water Drops Formed through Self-Organization of Hydrophobin Membranes: A Structural and Mechanistic Study Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

The Trichoderma reesei hydrophobin, HFBI, is a unique structural protein. This protein forms membranes by self-organization at air/water or water/solid interfaces. When HFBI forms a membrane at an air/water interface, the top of the water droplet is flattened.

Electrochemical properties of honeycomb-like structured HFBI self-organized membranes on HOPG electrodes.

HFBI (derived from Trichoderma sp.) is a unique structural protein, which forms a self-organized monolayer at both air/water interface and water/solid interfaces in accurate two-dimensional ordered structures. We have taken advantage of the unique functionality of HFBI as a molecular carrier for preparation of ordered molecular phase on solid substrate surfaces.

Solid-support immobilization of a "swing" fusion protein for enhanced glucose oxidase catalytic activity.

The strategic surface immobilization of a protein can add new functionality to a solid substrate; however, protein activity, e.g., enzymatic activity, can be drastically decreased on immobilization onto a solid surface.

Structure-function relationships in hydrophobins: probing the role of charged side chains.

Hydrophobins are small fungal proteins that are amphiphilic and have a strong tendency to assemble at interfaces. By taking advantage of this property, hydrophobins have been used for a number of applications: as affinity tags in protein purification, for protein immobilization, such as in foam stabilizers, and as dispersion agents for insoluble drug molecules. Here, we used site-directed mutagenesis to gain an understanding of the molecular basis of their properties.

Gold nanoparticles functionalized with peptides for specific affinity aggregation assays of estrogen receptors and their agonists.

Nuclear receptors regulate the transcription of genes and various functions such as development, differentiation, homeostasis, and behavior by formation of complexes with ligand and co-activator. Recent findings have shown that agonists of a ligand may have a toxic effect on cellular/tissular function through improper activation of nuclear receptors. In this study, a simple assay system of hetero-complexes of three different molecules (estrogen receptor, ligand, and co-activator peptide) has been developed.