Search

Serine proteases are major insect enzymes involved in the digestion of dietary proteins and in the process of blood meal digestion. In this study, cDNA was constructed using the whole body of Laccotrephes japonensis. The flanking sequences of the 5- and 3- end of this gene were characterized by RACE-PCR. Sequence analysis showed that this gene contained a 963-bp ORF encoding 320 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 62% identity with the Creontiades dilutus serine protease, 58% with the Lygus lineolaris trypsin precursor, and 54% with the Triatoma infestans salivary trypsin. To assess the expression of the L. japonensis serine protease (JGsp), the JGsp gene was cloned into a baculovirus transfer vector, pBac-1, and expressed in Sf9 cells (Spodoptera frugiperda). SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis have shown that the JGsp recombinant protein was a monomer with a molecular weight of about 32 kDa. Recombinant JGsp has shown activity in the protease enzyme assay using gelatin as a substrate.

Appreciably elevated levels of dextranase from Arthrobacter oxydans (AODex) isolated from sugar-cane farm soil was resulted from the culture on the Luria-Bertani (LB) medium containing 1%(w/v) soluble starch, glycerol, or dextran. The responsible gene (aodex) was cloned, its nucleotide sequence was determined, and expression of the encoded protein was achieved in Escherichia coli. An open reading frame was composed of 1,863 bp putatively encoding a 68.3 kDa protein. Recombinant A. oxydans dextranase (rAODex) was purified about 16 fold by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity column chromatography; Km value for dextran T2000 was 0.85 mg/mL (w/v). AODex treatment of stale sugar cane juice resulted in a yield of square and light-colored sugar crystals.

We have analyzed a metal direct printing method using roll printing technology for the low cost process in TFT-LCD fabrication. The silver metal electrodes patterned down to 3 μm in space width between lines were directly printed by this method. Very low line resistivity of 4.5 μΩ⋅cm was obtained, which is comparable to that of the AlNd metal alloy for the gate electrode of TFT-LCD. Furthermore, we evaluated the transfer characteristics of an a-Si:H TFT using directly printed silver material as a gate line.

— Recently, potential breakthrough technologies for low-cost processing of TFT-LCDs and new process developments for flexible-display fabrication have been widely studied. A roll-printing process using etch-resist material as a replacement for photolithographic patterning was investigated. The characterization of the properties of patterns formed in roll printing, a method to fabricate cliche plates for fine patterns, and the design of a new formulation for resist printing ink is reported. The pattern position accuracy, which is one of the most important issues for the successful application of printing processes in display manufacturing was studied and how it can be improved by optimizing the blanket roll structure is explained. New design rules for the layout of the thin-film-transistor array was derived to improve the compatibility of roll printing. As a result, a prototype 15-in.-XGA TFT-LCD panel was fabricated by using printing processes to replace all the photolithographic patterning steps conventionally used.

Recently, breakthrough technology for the low cost process in TFT-LCD and new process development for integrating it with flexible display fabrication has been studied importantly. As a way of achieving this goal, we have investigated roll printing process with etch-resist material as non-photolithographic patterning technique. We characterized the properties of patterns formed with roll printing process, derived the design concepts, and found the best way to fabricate the panel by this process. Thus, we were made the prototype of 15″ XGA TFT-LCD panel by using all printing processes.